Pardeep Bakshi
UDHAMPUR: The Barmeen accident in which four school going children died and 50 others injured on Thursday when the vehicle carrying them fell in a deep gorge has created wide spread protests against the lackadaisical approach of the administration and the traffic police against the errant bus operators.
The current accident has exposed the real face of MVD department and violation of traffic rules and lawlessness. The questions are being raised how a matador which has a capacity to 25 five passengers was carrying double the capacity. Situation turned for worse when MLA Chenani D N Bhagat who was going to the accident spot was stopped by an irate crowd which tried to manhandle him and pelted stones damaging the front screen of vehicle. Before this MLA could have managed escape he was forcibly took to nearby room and locked there. However Dy SP Arun Singh Jamwal who was at the accident site immediately rushed to MLA’s rescue and took him to safe place. Whereas MLA Bhagat alleged that he was roughed up in the presence of police. He alleged it was a well planned conspiracy by his rival and principal of GHSS who did not control the students but gave them a free hand. After the news of accident became public large number of locals gathered at site accident and shouted slogans against the administration for the allowing the bus operators to violate the traffic norms especially when matadors are used for ferrying school children. They alleged that they have been demanding the repair and renovation of Ghordi road, but nobody from Govt side ever took a note of the worsening condition of the road. The residents blamed the negligence on the part of district administration and government the road has become a death trap. Meanwhile, the MLA as mark of protest sat in front of SSP office Udhampur and demanded that the culprits be booked. MLA Udhampur Pawan Gupta, DIG Udhampur-Reasi Surinder Gupta and Deputy Commissioner Udham-pur Niraj Kumar asked the MLA to lift his Dharna and assured to take action the trouble makers and would intensify his security. DIG Surinder Gupta informed that taking the cognizance of the incident he has ordered an enquiry and directed the Adll. SP M.L Kaith to hold inquiry. He said police has lodged an FIR under section 304 Cr.PC and investigation has began.
