The retired forest range officer who was injured after he slipped from his Scooty when a baton allegedly thrown by a Cyberabad traffic policeman hit him, died while undergoing treatment in a private hospital on Saturday. The traffic policeman was apparently trying to halt a speeding bike using the baton when the 78-year-old man, Ch. Pratap Reddy, of Kothapet got hit on the Sagar Road near Gurramguda on Friday.
While eye-witnesses said Reddy fell down after a baton hit his vehicle, the police officials maintained that he could have sustained injuries when the handle or footrest of the bike of a student knocked his vehicle. The traffic police have been vehemently contesting the claim of baton being thrown at the senior citizen pointing out that they “don’t carry batons or sticks.”
“We suspect the handle of one of the student’s Pulsar bike might have hit the victim’s Scooty after which he fell down resulting in serious head injuries. Three eye-witnesses too said the same,” claimed Vanasthalipuram Sub-Inspector K. Bhasker Rao. A case registered against the unknown Pulsar bike under Section 337 (causing hurt by an act endangering the life or personal safety of others) of IPC would be altered to Section 304A (causing death by negligence) of IPC, he said.
However, the victim’s relative Krishna Reddy, quoting another set of eye-witnesses, said the victim fell down on being hit by the baton. “We will chalk out our action plan on how to proceed into the case after completion of the funeral,” he said. The victim’s daughter-in-law Vasudha lodged a complaint in the Vanasthalipuram police station.
The family also approached Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy and explained the circumstances that to led to the incident.
Suspended
Cyberabad Police Commissioner Ch. Dwaraka Tirumala Rao on Saturday suspended Vanasthalipuram traffic police sub-inspector R.S. Joseph and constable Krishna for their negligence while performing duty on Sagar Road. They were suspended based on a preliminary report submitted by a DCP. Home Guard Raghu Kumar was removed from service. A detailed inquiry was on, he said.
