SANGRUR TRAGEDY: ACCUSED IN 3-DAY REMAND
SANGRUR : The bodies of the four children, who were charred to death on Saturday after their school van caught fire at Sangrur district’s Longowal village, were cremated on Sunday by their inconsolable family members, relatives and local residents.
Earlier, post-mortem was conducted on the bodies.
Lakhwinder Singh, the owner-cum-principal of Simran Public School, Longowal, and van driver Dalvir Singh, who have been charged with murder, were produced in a Sangrur court that sent them to threeday police remand.
The police started probe into the sale and purchase deed of the Maruti Omni van.
Senior police officials said the van was purchased from the Samana-Patran area of Patiala district from a scrap dealer and are investigating registration records and model of the vehicle.
“We are looking into the registration of the van, its model and the previous owners. Also, we will probe the purpose behind its sale or was it actually sold by a scrap dealer. The forensic science teams have collected samples,” Sangrur senior superintendent of police (SSP) Sandeep Garg said.
The incident took place 25 kilometres from Sangrur town on Saturday when the school van was on the way to drop 12 students home. The four victims were aged 3 and six. The students’ parents claimed the van plied for the first time after it was purchased by the school owner.
State school education minister Vijay Inder Singla had claimed the van was around 20 years old and was purchased from a scrap dealer.
Sangrur deputy commissioner Ghanshyam Thori said that the magisterial inquiry into the incident will be conducted by additional deputy commissioner (general).
POLICE PROBE FOCUSES ON VEHICLE SALE AND PURCHASE DEED; ADC TO HEAD MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY; ACCUSED SCHOOL OWNER, DRIVER SENT TO THREE-DAY REMAND
STATE-WIDE DRIVE TO CHECK SCHOOL BUSES’ ROADWORTHINESS
Following directions of chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, the Punjab transport department is all set to launch a state-wide drive from Monday to check the roadworthiness of buses and other vehicles used for ferrying school children.
“All the sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) and deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) have been asked to check such vehicles. Even the regional transport authorities (RTAs) have been directed by the transport department to monitor the drive personally,” said deputy commissioner Thori.
ADMN RECOMMENDS 14-YR-OLD FOR HONOUR
The district administration on Sunday recommended the name of Amandeep Kaur (13) who three children after the fire incident.
Amandeep is learnt to have smashed the side window glass of the vehicle to get out of it.
“We will send her name for award from the chief minister,” the DC said.