Amritsar train tragedy: Probe report gives clean chit to Sidhus
The inquiry was coordinated by Divisional Commissioner, Jalandhar, B Purusharth, who has submitted his report to the chief minister of the state, Captain Amarinder Singh.
In Short
- 61 people were killed were killed in the Amritsar train tragedy
- Navjot Kaur Sidhu was the chief guest of the event that saw a train mowing down spectators standing on the railway tracks
- The report says the local administration of Amritsar should have checked whether the arrangements were adequate
A probe into the Amritsar train tragedy in which 61 people were killed has reportedly indicted the son of a Congress councillor, who organised the Dussehra celebrations, the local administration, and railway staff for the incident.
Sources add that a 300-page report on the incident has given a clean chit to Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and his wife, Navjot Kaur Sidhu.
The inquiry was coordinated by Divisional Commissioner, Jalandhar, B Purusharth, who has submitted his report to the chief minister of the state, Captain Amarinder Singh.
Navjot Kaur Sidhu, chief parliamentary secretary from the state, was the chief guest of the event that saw a train mowing down spectators standing on the railway tracks to see the burning of Ravana's effigy on Dussehra.
The inquiry report says Sidhu gets a clean chit because he was not present in Amritsar that day. And his wife cannot be held responsible as the chief guest visits the function if invited, but cannot look out for the possibilities of any danger that may befall.
The report goes on to say that the local administration of Amritsar should have checked whether the arrangements were adequate and there was no threat to the people. The report also mentions that the organiser, the son of a Congress councillor, had failed to get a permission from the municipal corporation failing which the administration permission was, in a way, null and void.
The local administration is also held responsible in the report as, it says, it should have ensured proper arrangements were made prior to the event.
The railway gateman is also held responsible for the mishap as the report says he should have signalled the driver of the train to lower the speed as soon as he spotted people on the tracks.
The report was submitted to the home secretary on November 21 and has now been sent to the Chief Minister's Office for further proceeding.
Earlier, an inquiry had held negligence of the people on the tracks as the main reason for the mishap.