Amritsar train tragedy: Victims’ kin protest near accident site
Slam state govt and Congress leader Sidhu for backtracking on their words
AMRITSAR: Saddened by the lack of interest shown by the state government in providing them relief, the kin of the victims of the Amritsar train accident staged a protest near the accident site on Tuesday. As many as 61 persons were killed and several injured in the train tragedy that took place last year.
As the grieving kin announced to block rail traffic at Jaura Phatak (railway crossing) near which the train had mowed down a mob watching burning of Ravana’s effigy on October 19 last year, the police beefed up security on both sides of the track.
The protesters bid to block traffic was foiled as they were stopped by the police from heading towards the track. They sat near the phatak shouting slogans against the government and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is an elected MLA from Amritsar east.
Sidhu’s wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu was chief guest in the last year Dussehra function and Sidhu’s aide Sourabh Madaan was the chief organiser of the function.
The probes were ordered as sheer negligence was found in organising the function. However, no action was taken against anyone despite three probes , neither the job promises made by the government and Sidhu have been fulfilled,” said Deepak Kumar, son of deceased Girender Kumar.
The protesters lifted the sit-in after sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Vikas Hira gave them written assurance of meeting their demands by October 22.
“We wanted the assurance in writing and we achieved that. we will resume the stir with the support of opposition parties if our demands are not met by October 22,” said Deepak who was leading the protesters.
MAKE MAGISTERIAL PROBE REPORT PUBLIC: KHAIRA
Punjab Ekta Party (PEP) president Sukhpal Singh Khaira, who also joined the protesters, sought that report of the magisterial probe ordered by chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh be made public and action be taken against those responsible.