Rally champion Gill still missing as police widen search for accused
BARMER: The Barmer police is yet to locate the whereabouts of Arjuna awardee and three-time Asia Pacific Rally champion Gaurav Gill who is also the prime accused in a hit and run accident that led to the death of a couple and their young son on Saturday during a rally championship.
Gaurav along with his co-driver Musa Sharif were booked for their alleged involvement in the accident during Round 3 of the Indian National Rally Championship on Saturday.
The family of three -- Narendra Bhati (42), Pushpa (40) and their son Jitendra (15) -- travelling on a motorcyle died on the spot after being hit by Gills car. “Soon after the accident, there were reports that Gill had also met with some injuries and was admitted at ahospital in Jodhpur. But we found that Gill is not in Jodhpur and we are trying to trace him,” said Khinv Singh Bhati, additional superintendent of police, Barmer. Several teams have also been formed to nab the accused. A case has also been registered at Samdari police station against Gill and his co-driver and navigator Musa Sheriff under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Maxperienace, Mahindra, JK Tyres, MRF Tyres and the Federation of Motor Sports Club of India—have also been named in the FIR.
According to additional superintendent of police Bhati, there are so many unanswered questions after the initial probe.
“It is matter of investigation on that what exactly happened? Who are responsible for the fatal incident? Who made the arrangements? What kinds of negligence were there? Bhati said adding that investigating team is also planning to question the companies named in the FIR.” Meanwhile, allegations of negligence on the part of organisers have come to the fore. According to police, though the rally organisers took permission from Sarpanches of many villages in Jodhpur enroute the rally, they failed to do the same in Barmer. The orgnisers went ahead with the event without getting consent letter from relevant authorities, this is serious negligence, said a senior official on condition of anonymity. The organisers seems to be at fault as they went ahead with the event after merely seeking permission but without getting the consent letter from the officials concerned, said Bhati.
However, Bhati added that the officials too seems to be at fault as they did not make necessary arrangement despite getting directions from the higher authorities. All these are going to be a part of the investigation, said Bhati. Taking serious note of the accident the state government has shunted out the district collector and superintendent of police following the accident. Besides ordering divisional commissioner level probe into the matter, additional director general of police Ravi Prakash on Tuesday visited the spot.
The accident also led to a flurry of transfers including the relocation of Bhuttaram Bishnoi, station house officer, Samdari police station to the police line. Balotra additional superintendent of police Ratanlal Bhargav and circle officer Chug Singh Bhati too has been transferred after the incident.