13-year-old’s death: ASI sent to lines for negligence in probe

PARENTS HAD ACCUSED THE JALANDHAR COP OF CHANGING THE REGISTRATION NUMBER OF THE BUS THAT HAD CRUSHED THE GIRL TO DEATH ON SATURDAY

JALANDHAR : An assistant sub-inspector (ASI), Jang Bahadur, deputed to be the investigation officer in the case of a speeding bus crushing a 13-year-old girl to death in Safipur village, on Saturday, will face a departmental inquiry and has been shifted to the police lines, the district rural police said on Sunday.

The action came after the parents of the victim, Rachna Gill, alleged that the ASI, posted at the Adampur police station, tampered with the school bus’s registration number in documents pertaining to the investigation to favour school authorities.

On Saturday, Rachna was on her way home from Government High School when a speeding bus of Paramdyal Convent School, Sham Chaurasi, hit her bicycle, causing serious injuries to her. Doctors declared her brought dead at the hospital. On Sunday, the parents and kin protested outside the Adampur police station, claiming that the police were manipulating facts.

“ASI Bahadur changed the registration number of the bus in case documents from PB07AS8987 to PB07AS8986,” one of the protesters claimed.

Parents threatened not to cremate Rachna’s body till the police acted against the IO. “On Monday, we will protest outside the police station,” they added.

Jalandhar Rural SSP Navjot Mahal said, “Departmental inquiry will also be started against the ASI for negligence.”

A case has been registered under sections 304A (causing death by negligence), 279 (rash driving ) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of ₹50) of the IPC against the accused driver, Sarabjit Singh.