Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Oct 9: In connection with the tragic incident which happened on national highway near Parkala on October 2 this year in which an 18-month-old child lost its life, the Manipal police have booked the father of the child, accusing him of committing offences under sections 279, 337 and 304A of of Indian Penal Code, which deal with negligent driving, causing injury to others, and causing death due to rash or negligent act.
Umesh and Pramoda from Udyavar Kutpady here were going to Atrady from Parkala in their motor bike along with 18-month-old son, Chirag, on October 2 when the motor bike had skidded when trying to avoid potholes dotting the road near B M School, Parkala. The motor bike skidded on this occasion, and all the three had fallen down. While Chirag suffered grave injuries and lost his life sometime later, the couple had survived with injuries. Both wee admitted into a hospital and treated, and they are now recuperating in the residence of Pramoda's parental home at Hiriyadka.
Although various organizations and activists had organized protests about the wretched state of road between Manipal and Parkala, the road has not been repaired. The road was in a bad shape even during summer months.
Immediately after the accident, Pramoda's brother, Krishna Poojary, had filed complaint with Manipal police station, with the hope ot making national highways authority responsible for the accident. But the police chose to find fault with the people who were riding on the vehicle.
People have been expressing themselves strongly against the action of the police in registering case against the parents of the child that was killed in the accident instead of supporting them in their time of crisis. As soon as the issue came into the open on Sunday, posts condemning police action started appearing in various social websites. Many questioned the rationale of the police personnel in targetting distressed parents, although everyone knows that the accident happened because of the negligence of the department of highways or improper execution of work by contractor concerned.