Death of Sikender

Family alleges murder, police trying to make it case of accident 

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 20: An incident of hit and run case by a Scorpio vehicle on Sole-Tanda road on July 15 evening in which a 15 year old boy namely Sikander was killed has again highlighted the issue of how influential and powerful people can play with the lives of the common man.

While the family members as per the eyewitnesses account allege that their son was deliberately killed by a local boy, but police is trying to make it an incident of accident.

After the incident, a press conference was addressed by Bodh Raj, father of the victim in which he had alleged that it was not an accident but a murder while the police was adamant and trying to shield the assailants who are influential having political back up.

As per the allegation of the victims family the accused Balwinder Singh, son of Bhola Singh, resident of Sole, Tanda, was driving Scorpio No. JK02AA/0458 and he ran over his son Sikander when he was going for tuition.

Family maintains that three village women who noticed this all made the Scorpio driver to stop and identified him. Another villager Rattan Lal who was at some distance also ran there and he moved the boy to Akhnoor hospital where he died after some time.

“There are people who witnessed all this but police refuses to accept our view and are trying to shield the accused who is quite highly connected”, alleged the family members.

Sources said that there was a cricket tournament in the area few days back and Balwinder Singh had damaged the pitch of the ground as his team was denied entry.

As Sikander had noticed his act, he disclosed in front of the panchayat citing Balwinder’s name for the damage.

Bodh Raj said that despite relating all the facts of the incident and eye-witness account, the police was adamant to book the accused in murder case.

“Neither SHO not SDPO were prepared to listen to them” said Bodh Raj. He said that he lost his only son and was feeling helpless to get justice.

However SDPO, Akhnoor Mushtaq Choudhary said that they have arrested the accused and case is being investigated

He further said that the department has registered a case under section 304-A, and the investigation is going on to trace out the truth.

“If it will found the case of murder the case will convert to section 302” he added.

When asked about the recent statement given by the victim’s father against the police department, Choudhary said that there is no such case and the father is fully satisfied with our work.

“Yes there are some misleading elements who force Bodh Raj to do so” added Choudhary.