Sewer deaths in Mohali: Commission chairman seeks high-level probe

Tribune News Service
Mohali, July 28

Geja Ram, chairman of the Punjab State Sweepers’ Commission, today sought a high-level inquiry into the death of two persons inside a sewer pit near HLP Galleria in Phase 8 here.

He demanded that a case under Section 304 should be registered instead of Section 304-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the Phase 8 police station. In addition, provisions of the SC/ST Act and the Manual Scavenging Act - 2013 should also be added.

‘Register case under Section 304’

Geja Ram, chairman of the Punjab State Sweepers’ Commission, demanded that a case under Section 304 should be registered instead of Section 304-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the Phase 8 police station. In addition, provisions of the SC/ST Act and the Manual Scavenging Act - 2013 should also be added.

He said the matter was being investigated by the DSP-level officer and the Additional Deputy Commissioner for the past 11 days. They should identify the person responsible for the negligence, which led to the loss of two precious lives.

He said the matter needed to be closely scrutinised as the present investigation team had not considered several important aspects.

He said the investigation team should not consider these deaths as an accident. It should conduct a high-level inquiry to find out the real cause of these deaths so that justice could be delivered to the families of the deceased.

The chairman recommended that the Safety Act related to sweepers/sewermen be strictly enforced, providing the required safety devices and other equipment to janitors on the job.