Avinash Azad
Jammu, Apr 7: In yet another case substantiating that unholy nexus between Police and influential persons often derails a criminal case, a similar situation has come to fore in the infamous Kangra Fort Banquet Hall' collapsing case where the real culprit, the contractor who was entrusted to construct the building, has gone Scot- free.
The family members Major Ram, a mason, one of the deceased labourer of Thathi Akhnoor, allege that accident took place due to negligence on part of contractor, which claimed three lives of labourers. "Major Ram had been working with Varinder Kumar alias Billu contractor of Akhnoor for last 20 years. Billu was given contract for the construction of a portion of Kangra Fort, in Upper Barnai area, where accident took place on July 30, 2013", said Ram Dass, elder brother of deceased Major Ram.
The family alleged that owing to proximity between police and contractor investigation into death case of trio labourers including Major Ram had caught into political vertex. "Seeking justice, for kin of deceased, we have approached pillar to post, but all in vain. No compensation has been given to victim’s family", he said, adding that contractor Billu had made commitment before the then SP Rural Mohan Lal Kaith to pay Rs 7 lacs as compensation to family of Major Ram which has not met so far.
The family alleged that Billu contractor who is close aide to a Congress Minister and has been enjoying political patronage. "Being close to a Minister, the police has never dare to arrest him", he said, adding that Major was employed by Billu contractor, but at time of his death he refused to identify his man.
Ram Daas is shocked and fails to understand why Police has let the accused go scot free. "At the time of accident, in order to calm down anger among families of deceased and injured, police arrested one person namely, Sukhdev Singh son of Shallo Singh Chib. However, he had nothing to do with the accident", he said, adding that latter he was bailed-out.
However, sources in Police Department informed Early Times that the investigation in the case is under-progress and collected evidences and statements of eye witness were against Sukhdev Singh. "Investigation into accident is going on police have recorded statement of labourers and other eye witnesses", said an police official seeking anonymity. He added that he was not aware about current status of the case, but in earlier stage the investigation was almost completed.
It is pertinent to mention here that three labourers died, while others were injured when the roof-top of the building suddenly was collapsed. In the incident, the labourers engaged in the construction work got trapped under the debris. The district administration, on behalf of Indian Red Cross Society, announced Rs 20,000 to the family members of the deceased, Rs 10,000 to the seriously injured, Rs 5,000 to the labourer who suffered fracture in his leg and Rs 2,000 each to other injured. But, surprisingly no compensation was given to victim families by the contractors. |
