While Sharmila (33) lay unattended on the road for nearly two hours,the Chandigarh Police officials ensured that crucial evidence from the scene of crime was not destroyed by anyone. The directions came from the SHO (Sahib),who allegedly reached the spot almost two hours late. And when he did,the first thing he did was to shoo away the public,asking them to mind their business. Prakash,Station House officer (SHO),Sector-3 Police Station,told people,who were agitated,of the duties of the police. When confronted,the Sahib allegedly directed Akash and Ravit,two youths who tried to save Sharmila,to disappear. Akash was even allegedly grabbed by his collar and pushed away,as claimed by him (Akash),by the SHO. The SHO curtly said - Will you leave or not ? He (SHO) got aggressive. We requested him to be polite and civil,but to no avail. We left as we did not want to get bashed up by the police officials, rued Ravit,22-year-old,an eyewitness. Disturbed over the alleged inhuman attitude of the police officials,the two youths had filed a complaint with senior police officers demanding action against the SHO and other police officials for causing substantive delay,of two hours,in taking the injured woman to the hospital. Talking to Chandigarh Newsline,Ravit said that the people,who had gathered started raising slogans against the police officials,including two lady constables,who stood there as spectators. Police officials refused to transport the woman to the hospital. She could have been saved had she been taken to a hospital,in time, he added. Having been slammed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court for their callous attitude,the Chandigarh Police on Saturday asked Ravit and his friend to appear before a senior police officer on May 13. Police officials visited Ravits residence on Saturday morning to hand him a notice to join the investigation. Despite repeated attempts,the SHO was not available for comments. Bring all supporting relevant documents: Cops to eyewitnesses The notice given to the two eyewitnesses asks them to please appear before the SSP,Commandant,IRB. The Chandigarh Police has asked Ravit and Akash to bring all supporting relevant documents to corroborate their allegations against the police officials. This is obnoxious. We do not have any documents. We were eyewitnesses, said Ravit. Apart from the two eyewitnesses,SHO Shri Prakash; Balbir Singh,the CTU bus driver,who allegedly crushed the 33-year-old woman; and Subhash Kumar,brother of the deceased,have also been asked to appear before the authority concerned. For two hours,the two lady constables along with a couple of other male police officials kept standing,making faces. They appeared uncomfortable on the sight of the incident. Public gathered around kept requesting them to allow them to take the woman to the hospital, an eyewitness said. Witness kin worried,youths determined Ravits parents are worried about his safety. However,Ravit and Akash are determined to pursue their complaint against the police officials. My mother is worried after I made a complaint,but I am not scared, Ravit said. To ensure that their statements are not changed,Ravit said,We are planning to give our statements in writing,so that no changes are made to it.
