Motorcycle of the 19-yr-old, who was shot dead by a police firing at Windsor place in New Delhi on Sunday – PTI
Stunt biking by around 150 young men led to a tragedy in the heart of Delhi. In the wee hours Sunday, when police opened fire killing a teenager riding pillion, according to Inspector Rajneesh Parmar of the Police Control Room fired from his revolver in a bid to puncture a tyre of a blue Bajaj Discover 125 ST’s rear tyre but it instead hit the victim, Karan Pandey, on his back.
The bike rider, Puneet Sharma, also fell off the bike and suffered bruises. Both Sharma and Pandey were taken to a hospital. The other bikers sped away. The incident took place around 2.15 am near Le Meridian hotel in Parliament street of central Delhi when a group of bikers were involved in a argumentative meeting with police officials trying to stop them from performing dangerous stunts on the roads.
Karan Pandey, resident of south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar, while Pandey is in his late 20s, was riding pillion on Punit Sharma’s motorcycle. Pandey was riding pillion on Puneet Sharma’s bike, who was injured in the incident. Both of them were rushed to Ram Manohar Lohiya hospital, where Pandey was declared dead. Sharma was found to be drunk when tests were carried out at the hospital.
Deccan Chronicle –
Police personnels push damaged police patrolling van, after a confrontation between Delhi police and stunt bikers at Windsor place in New Delhi on Sunday – PTI
According to the police, a group of bikers were involved in a confrontation with police officials who were trying to stop them from performing dangerous stunts on the roads.
“A PCR call was received that 30-35 bikers were performing stunts opposite Gol Dak Khana. When PCR reached Windsor Palace, opposite Le Meridian hotel they found that more than 150 bikers were performing stunts,” said Rajan Bhagat, Public Relation Officer, Delhi police. When the police tried to stop them they started pelting stones. During the confrontation, the PCR van was damaged and some policemen were injured, he said.
“To control them, police fired to puncture the tyre which hit a pillion rider Karan Pandey who later expired in the hospital. Rider Punit Sharma tested positive for alcohol in blood during medical test,” Bhagat said. Pandey was riding pillion on Punit’s bike, said a senior police officer. Both of them were rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, where Pandey was declared dead.
Sharma was treated for injuries and he is out of danger now, doctors said. Although police claimed that the killing was an ‘accident’, family members of the youth and others questioned whether cops could have employed other options.
“Police should not have fired. These were young children. Children do mistakes, but it gives no right to police to claim someone’s life,” said Kusumlata, mother of Punit who was injured in the incident.
Cops have also released CCTV footage of the streets of New Delhi area showing several bikers performing stunts late night.
In an effort to curb youths from performing risky motorcycle stunts around India Gate, Delhi Police had carried out a late night checking drive in this area, slapping fines on 84 motorcycle riders and impounding eight bikes early this month.
The crackdown came after a number of incidents were reported in which stunt junkies either lost their lives or injured others. Even a police constable was seriously injured in a similar incident recently.
Also see – Azharuddin’s son Ayazuddin dies after road accident
Source & Image Credit – Deccan Chronicle.com
