Action already initiated against 6 Cops & Mc officers Chargesheeted in Dussehra Train Tragedy- Capt Amarinder

Rejects Allegations of Inaction by State Govt

Chandigarh, Oct 21 (Punjab Post Bureau) – Rejecting media reports of inaction by the state government in the Dussehra 2018 train tragedy, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday said departmental action had already been initiated against six police officers and seven employees of the Municipal Corporation Amritsar had been chargesheeted in the case.

            These police and MC personnel had been found guilty of dereliction of duty and necessary action had been ordered against them, based on the findings of the Magisterial Inquiry Report. The magisterial enquiry into the incident, which occurred on 19th October 2018, was conducted by Divisional Commissioner Jalandhar B Purushartha, on the orders of the Chief Minister. A total of 58 persons died and 71 were injured in the tragic mishap.

            Taking cognizance of some recent reports, the Chief Minister clarified that due action, as per the law, was being taken against all those found guilty, and there was no question of brushing the matter aside or burying the inquiry report, as alleged in a section of the media.

                        It may be recalled that immediately after the accident, the Chief Minister had ordered compensation @Rs 5 lakh to the dependents of each of the deceased, with Rs 50000 compensation for those injured. Of the Rs 2.9 crore placed at the disposal of Deputy Commissioner Amritsar for disbursal to the kin of the deceased, Rs. 2.6 crore had already been disbursed. In one case, all four members of a family had died and their legal heirs could not be verified, according to an official spokesperson. Further, the identification of the legal heir of one deceased remained disputed and identity of one victim could not be established.