Cops refuse to register FIR after 14-yr-old loses hand

NAVI MUMBAI: Eleven days after a 14-year-old boy lost his right hand while working in a company in Pawane, the Rabale MIDC police have refused to register a first information report (FIR) against the company owner.

Lavkush Gaud, a native of Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh, lost his hand when he was putting papers in a punching and printing machine. The hand got stuck inside the machine and got severed near the wrist. He was later admitted to KEM hospital in Mumbai.

On Friday, his parents along with some members of Navi Mumbai childline centre went to the police station for registering an FIR. However, the on duty police officers repeatedly told them they will have to talk to the company owner first.

“The police also made a wrong statement. While the boy is 14-year-old, they mentioned his age 20. We also have a copy of his birth certificate,” said Shobha Murthy, head of the childline centre.

“Second, in the statement they have mentioned that the boy was cleaning the machine. Unintentionally, he presses the button and the machine started and thus he lost his hand. This is an utter lie. The boy was ordered to put papers in the running machine and thus he met with the accident,” she added.

The boy officially signs in English as he studied till Class 8. After losing his right hand, he could have done the same with his left hand.

“The police, however, held his left hand and made him sign in Hindi. We have no idea why the made him sign in Hindi in a statement with so many factual mistakes. The statement was written in Marathi. The boy agreed to sign on it as he does not understand that language,” Murthy added.

The police officers were also repeatedly reminding them the Rs2,000 the company had given the family in hospital.

“We think the police are hand in glove with the company owner. If they do not register an FIR till Saturday, we will approach the police commissioner and will ask for a clarification. We are also planning to meet the labour commissioner on Monday,” Murthy said.

When Hindustan Times tried to contact C Katkar, senior police inspector of Rabale MIDC police station, he did not answer the phone. He also did not reply to the text messages.

Prashant Khaire, deputy commissioner of police (zone 1), said, “I will personally look into the matter and will do whatever is required for the family to get justice.”

THE ON-DUTY POLICE OFFICERS REPEATEDLY TOLD THEM THEY WILL HAVE TO TALK TO THE COMPANY OWNER FIRST.