Bhubaneswar: Residents of Bharatpur area here Monday staged a gherao of the Khandagiri police station alleging callous approach by police towards a youth, who died in a road mishap October 19, and his family. They alleged that the cops did not take any step to probe the accident despite seizing the deceased’s motorcycle.
According to sources, the deceased, S Manoj, 24, was a resident of Bharatpur under Khandagiri police station limits. October 19, Manoj left his home on a bike (OD 33 C 6349) of his friend to visit puja pandals in the city. However, while returning home, he met with an accident, whose cause is yet to be ascertained, near the Forest Department office at Gaja Vihar.
Some onlookers informed the police about the mishap and PCR van – 19 of Nayapalli Police rescued Manoj and admitted him to Capital Hospital. Later, Khandagiri Police reached there and seized the bike as the area where the mishap had happened falls under its jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, worried over his son’s disappearance, Manoj’s father lodged a missing case at the police station October 20. It is alleged that the cops there did not inform Manoj’s father about the seized bike which was lying at the police station. Later, Manoj’s relatives noticed the bike parked at the station following which they enquired about it (bike) and were informed that it was of a youth who met an accident on the night of October 19, it is alleged.
The family members then rushed to the Capital Hospital where the doctors informed them that their son had been shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital. When they (the relatives) reached the hospital in Cuttack, they found a blood stained Manoj lying without attention in a corner of the hospital, it is further alleged.
The family shifted Manoj to Sum Hospital where he succumbed to the injuries October 21 night.
The family members alleged that had the police informed them earlier about the mishap by taking their missing complaint seriously then Manoj could have availed better treatment and would have been alive today.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Satyajit Mohanty said, “It is the duty of the PCR van to inform the police station which would try to identity the victim.” Mohanty also assured that appropriate action will be taken against the wrongdoers.