A 60-year-old auto driver, who suffered severe injuries when he was allegedly hit by a speeding police car in Connaught Place on May 30, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday.
Wails could be heard from a narrow street in east Delhi’s New Layalpur where Gulshan Makkar resided with his two sons, daughter-in-law and grandson. He breathed his last at 7.30 a.m.
His family was allegedly told not to enter his hospital room from 6 a.m. onwards.
Died on son’s birthday
“He was on ventilator support since he was admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital after the accident. He suffered a severe head injury. We never got to talk to him one last time,” his son Lalit Makkar, who turned 31 on Sunday, told The Hindu .
“Now I share my birthday with my father’s death anniversary,” said Mr. Makkar as he broke down.
Mr. Makkar, who works in a private firm in Gurugram, said he lost his mother three years ago. The family alleged that the police didn’t seem bothered by the accident.
“They haven’t done anything so far. Strict action should be taken against the police driver. In the last five days, the police have come to meet us only twice. The first day, they came and told us to come to Connaught Place police station for further proceedings. The second time was on Sunday morning during post-mortem,” added Mr. Makkar.
Caught on camera
The entire episode was captured on a CCTV camera at a nearby petrol pump. The video shows the auto being hit by a speeding police vehicle, driven by constable Suresh Kumar, from the rear right side. The victim is seen falling from the auto and hitting the ground a few metres away. The constable is seen running towards the victim and then going back to the car. As people gather at the spot, they surround the police vehicle and don’t let the constable leave.
Mr. Kumar took the victim to the hospital and called up his family.
No action against cop yet
The police said they had registered a case under IPC Sections 279 (rash driving) and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life), but will now add 304A (causing death by negligence) after the auto driver’s demise.
“We haven’t arrested Mr. Kumar so far, but it’s a bailable offence. He hasn’t been arrested,” said a senior police officer privy to the case. He added that Mr. Kumar continues to carry out his duties at Barakhamba Road police station. “The future of his services will be decided after the court’s verdict whenever it’s announced,” the officer said.
The deceased started driving an auto two years ago after suffering losses in his wholesale tomato business in 2015.
