Train collision case charge sheet to be filed on Friday, will cite negligence of driver

S. VIJAY KUMAR

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A file picture of collision of two trains ,near Arakkonam in Vellore district on September 13, 2011.

It will also present 169 witnesses account and 25 pieces of material evidence

The Government Railway Police (GRP) will cite about 169 witnesses and 25 pieces of material evidence in a charge sheet pertaining to the collision of two trains near Arakkonam in Vellore district on September 13, 2011, which left 11 passengers dead and more than 70 injured, police sources said on Thursday.

The GRP is expected to file a 600-page charge sheet in a Judicial Magistrate Court at Arakkonam on Friday.

Investigating officials said the prosecution mainly relied upon scientific evidence though statements were recorded from eyewitnesses, passengers and railway employees.

The incident pertains to the collision between the Chennai Beach-Vellore Cantonment Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit and the Arakkonam-Katpadi passenger train near Chitheri railway station.

The speeding MEMU rammed into the rear of the passenger train that was moving at a slow speed.

A special team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police V. Ponram that went into the details of the case found that negligence on the part of the MEMU driver led to the collision.

Investigation revealed that the driver was speaking on his mobile phone at the time of the accident and jumped the signal in red (danger). Moreover, the seized speedometer indicated that the MEMU was moving at high speed at the time of collision.

Though the police initially registered a case under section 304A (causing death due to negligence) of IPC, it was later altered to section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). Though the driver A. Rajkumar initially denied having used his mobile phone while on duty and maintained that he did not cross the signal in danger, incoming/outgoing call details on his mobile phone revealed that he was speaking till a few minutes before the accident, the sources said.

“After examining railway officials, injured passengers and other members of the public, we perused material evidence. All facts pointed to wilful negligence on part of the MEMU driver. The report of the Commissioner of Railway Safety also coincided with our findings that it was a human error. This is not an accident…it is a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder,” Mr. Ponram told The Hindu on Thursday.

Keywords: Government Railway Police, Arakkonam train crash, train collision 

Train collision case charge sheet to be filed on Friday, will cite negligence of driver

S. VIJAY KUMAR

SHARE  ·   COMMENT   ·   PRINT   ·   T+  

A file picture of collision of two trains ,near Arakkonam in Vellore district on September 13, 2011.

It will also present 169 witnesses account and 25 pieces of material evidence

The Government Railway Police (GRP) will cite about 169 witnesses and 25 pieces of material evidence in a charge sheet pertaining to the collision of two trains near Arakkonam in Vellore district on September 13, 2011, which left 11 passengers dead and more than 70 injured, police sources said on Thursday.

The GRP is expected to file a 600-page charge sheet in a Judicial Magistrate Court at Arakkonam on Friday.

Investigating officials said the prosecution mainly relied upon scientific evidence though statements were recorded from eyewitnesses, passengers and railway employees.

The incident pertains to the collision between the Chennai Beach-Vellore Cantonment Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit and the Arakkonam-Katpadi passenger train near Chitheri railway station.

The speeding MEMU rammed into the rear of the passenger train that was moving at a slow speed.

A special team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police V. Ponram that went into the details of the case found that negligence on the part of the MEMU driver led to the collision.

Investigation revealed that the driver was speaking on his mobile phone at the time of the accident and jumped the signal in red (danger). Moreover, the seized speedometer indicated that the MEMU was moving at high speed at the time of collision.

Though the police initially registered a case under section 304A (causing death due to negligence) of IPC, it was later altered to section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). Though the driver A. Rajkumar initially denied having used his mobile phone while on duty and maintained that he did not cross the signal in danger, incoming/outgoing call details on his mobile phone revealed that he was speaking till a few minutes before the accident, the sources said.

“After examining railway officials, injured passengers and other members of the public, we perused material evidence. All facts pointed to wilful negligence on part of the MEMU driver. The report of the Commissioner of Railway Safety also coincided with our findings that it was a human error. This is not an accident…it is a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder,” Mr. Ponram told The Hindu on Thursday.

Keywords: Government Railway Police, Arakkonam train crash, train collision 

Two fishermen killed in ship-boat collision

Posted on: 01 Mar 2012

Alappuzha (Ker): Two fishermen were killed and three others reported missing when an unidentified ship collided with their boat off Alappuzha coast in the early hours today, the second incident involving fishermen in the Kerala coast in the last fortnight. Two fishermen were rescued by the crew of other boats in the sea, district authorities said.The boat, Dwan-II, had ventured to sea from Neendakara fishing harbour on Sunday with seven fishermen aboard. The Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Enforcement have
launched a search to spot and identify the ship and find out how exactly the mishap occurred, Alappuzha District Collector 
Saurav Jain said.

A rescued fishermen said the boat was anchored at sea and was hit by the ship. The deceased were identified as Francis Justine and Xavier, both from Kollam district. The rescued fishermen were brought to Thottappaly fishing harbour in Alappuzha district and rushed to hospital.The incident comes close on the heels of killing of two fishermen from the same area allegedly by two naval guards of the Italian ship 'Enrica Lexie' on February 15. PTI

Two fishermen killed in ship-boat collision

Posted on: 01 Mar 2012

Alappuzha (Ker): Two fishermen were killed and three others reported missing when an unidentified ship collided with their boat off Alappuzha coast in the early hours today, the second incident involving fishermen in the Kerala coast in the last fortnight. Two fishermen were rescued by the crew of other boats in the sea, district authorities said.The boat, Dwan-II, had ventured to sea from Neendakara fishing harbour on Sunday with seven fishermen aboard. The Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Enforcement have
launched a search to spot and identify the ship and find out how exactly the mishap occurred, Alappuzha District Collector 
Saurav Jain said.

A rescued fishermen said the boat was anchored at sea and was hit by the ship. The deceased were identified as Francis Justine and Xavier, both from Kollam district. The rescued fishermen were brought to Thottappaly fishing harbour in Alappuzha district and rushed to hospital.The incident comes close on the heels of killing of two fishermen from the same area allegedly by two naval guards of the Italian ship 'Enrica Lexie' on February 15. PTI

Government clears amendment to Motor Vehicle Act

Posted on: 01 Mar 2012

New Delhi:The government is understood have cleared a proposal to ammend the Motor Vehicle Act to deal sternly with violators of traffic rules. According to sources, a meeting of the Cabinet held today has approved the ammendments to the Act for harsher
punishments for offences like drunken driving and violation of traffic rules.'The ammendments are meant to deal the traffic offences seriously. Repeated violations will fetch very high fines and even may take the offenders to jail,' a source said.

The modifications are aimed at introducing stronger deterrents and inculcating greater respect for the laws, sources said.
As per reports, the first offence of talking over mobile phones while driving can lead to a fine of Rs 500 and the subsequent violations can be as high as Rs 5,000. Jumping red lights or not using seat belts and helmets may attract fines between Rs 500 and Rs 1,500, reports said. PTI

Government clears amendment to Motor Vehicle Act

Posted on: 01 Mar 2012

New Delhi:The government is understood have cleared a proposal to ammend the Motor Vehicle Act to deal sternly with violators of traffic rules. According to sources, a meeting of the Cabinet held today has approved the ammendments to the Act for harsher
punishments for offences like drunken driving and violation of traffic rules.'The ammendments are meant to deal the traffic offences seriously. Repeated violations will fetch very high fines and even may take the offenders to jail,' a source said.

The modifications are aimed at introducing stronger deterrents and inculcating greater respect for the laws, sources said.
As per reports, the first offence of talking over mobile phones while driving can lead to a fine of Rs 500 and the subsequent violations can be as high as Rs 5,000. Jumping red lights or not using seat belts and helmets may attract fines between Rs 500 and Rs 1,500, reports said. PTI