The eyewitnesses say the police are allegedly shielding the sub-inspector, who “dragged the youth (Gagandeep) after hitting the motorcycle he was driving”.

After the accident, Gagandeep was booked for rash and negligent driving with his friend Mandeep, while S-I Jaspal Singh Bhuallar, in-charge of Sector-22 police post, was let off.

What they saw
Malkeet Singh, resident of a village near Mullanpur, said: “We were coming in two cars from Sector-23 side, and I had just crossed the Kiran Cinema traffic signal. Since my friend Sukhdev was about 100 metres behind me, the light turned red as he reached the signal. I stopped my car and waited for him at the other side. I was looking through the rear view mirror.”

Sukhdev Singh said as the signal turned green, two youths on motorcycle came from behind to cross it. “Suddenly, a cop in his Santro car jumped the other red light and came in front of the motorcycle. The car was speeding. The motorcycle collided with the car and the youths fell on the bonnet. One got entangled in the car and was dragged to some distance. After the car stopped, the cop came out, looked at the youths and fled,” Sukhdev said.

Malkeet and Sukhdev, along with their friends Paramveer and Kuldeep, stepped out of their cars to help the youths. Malkeet called up the PCR. After a few minutes, Paramveer again called up the PCR from his mobile and asked for immediate help.

“The PCR took the injured to the hospital and soon we decided to follow,” Malkeet said. “In the hospital, we found Mandeep lying unattended on a stretcher. Doctors said his CT scan was to be done for which somebody needed to deposit Rs 800. We deposited the money and brought medicines for them.”

Paramveer added: “The police came to the hospital and asked for eyewitnesses. We told them we saw everything, but they did not take down our statements.

Sukhdev then called up the Senior Superintendent of Police and briefed him about the matter. “He asked me to approach the SHO of the area instead of him,” Sukhdev said. “The next day we came to know that the police have registered a case against the youths though the sub-inspector was at fault.”