Shortly After Amritsar Train Tragedy, Dussehra Event Organiser Fled His Residence, Shows CCTV Footage
The Amritsar police has registered an FIR into the deaths of 61 people and injuries to at least 57. However, no accused has been named in first information report.
Amritsar, October 21: Shortly after a Jalandhar-bound DMU train mowed to death at least 61 Dussehra revelers in Amritsar, the organiser of the ill-fated event fled from his residence. The visuals showing him fleeing from his house in a white SUV was captured by the CCTV footage in his neighbourhood.
The police have launched a search operation for Sourabh Madan Mithu, the Dusshera organiser, and his father Vijay Madan. Both were summoned for questioning on Saturday. However, the summons remained unanswered. Mithu's mother, a local Congress Councillor, is also missing after the fatal accident. Amritsar Dussehra Event Host Told Navjot Kaur Sidhu '5,000 Standing on Tracks For You', Failed to Alert Railways.
Watch CCTV Footage of Mithu Escaping From His Resident After the Train Accident:
Angry youths of Dhobi Ghat -- the locality where the accident site, as well as Mithu's house is located -- pelted stones at his residence. After the neighbours ran an alarm, a police team was deployed to disperse the mob.
The Amritsar police has registered an FIR into the deaths of 61 people and injuries to at least 57. However, no accused has been named in first information report.
Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, who visited the victims' kin on Sunday, said the government is attempting to shield the accused. "This is not an accident by a massacre. Why have been no arrests made till now," he questioned.
The Indian Railways has ruled out action against the train driver, claiming that he could not be blamed as he had received a green signal. The gates of the manned crossing, located 200 metres away from the site of accident, were also closed, signalling a clear route ahead, said Railway Board chairman Ashwani Lohani.
A magisterial inquiry into the incident has been ordered by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. The report would be tabled before the government within 4 weeks, the Punjab CM said, adding that action would be accordingly taken.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 21, 2018 09:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).