Hit-and-run deaths: Punjab CPS’s nephew in dock for rash driving

HOSHIARPUR: The Hariana police have registered a case of rash driving (Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code) against Punjab chief parliamentary secretary Mohinder Kaur Josh’s nephew Ravi Sher Singh. The latter had allegedly run his Gypsy over three girls, residents of Gobindpur Khun Khun village, on Saturday.

Sunita and Anuradha died on the spot, while Priya is battling for life at a private hospital here. The aggrieved families are demanding that Ravi be booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder (section 304 of the IPC). They have also refused to cremate the girls until the accused is arrested and the FIR amended.

Josh faced the families’ ire

We thought she (Josh) had come to sympathise with us, but she rubbed salt into our wounds by seeking a compromise

KIN OF VICTIM

when she reportedly tried to negotiate a deal with them. She allegedly offered a compensation of Rs 1 lakh each if the case against her nephew was withdrawn, but irate villagers forced her to leave the place at once. Women reported pelted her vehicle with cow-dung cakes.

A family member of Sunita said: “We thought she (Josh) had come to sympathise with us, but she rubbed salt into our wounds by seeking a compromise.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of people, including students of GGSD College where the victims studied, gathered outside the Hariana police station to express solidarity with the families.

When DSP HS Parmar arrived, he was told that the bodies would not be cremated unless the accused was arrested under Section 304. They also demanded a medical examination of the CPS’ nephew, alleging that he was under the influence of drugs when he ran the Gypsy over the girls. They threatened to lay siege to the Hoshiarpur-Dasuya road on Monday by keeping the bodies in the middle of the highway if their demands were not met.

Despite repeated attempts, Josh could not be contacted.