GUWAHATI:
A 60-year-old daily wage labourer was run over by an escort vehicle following President Ram Nath Kovind’s cavalcade in upper Assam’s Bokakhat town, on February 26.
The deceased has been identified as Rameshwar Rabidas, a resident of Ward No. 4 of Milanpur situated close to the NH-715.
It was also informed that one of the last three police escort vehicles of the carcade hit and ran over the person. It was followed by two other vehicles, killing the victim on the spot.
The vehicles did not stop and sped away.
Later, locals called an ambulance and sent the body to a nearby hospital for necessary formalities.
Local TV channels showed gory visuals of a man lying in a pool of blood on the road and then being taken away in an ambulance.
The incident took place in front of Jogananda Deva Satradhikar Goswami College (JDSG College) at around 1.30 pm when the President’s cavalcade was heading towards Kaziranga National Park from Bokakhat.
“A black Scorpio vehicle hit him when he was crossing the road,” an eyewitness said.
Condemning the incident All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS)’s Assam Chapter demanded an acknowledgement of the death from the President.
“It is very unfortunate that the President’s convoy trampled down Rameshwar Rabidas to death. This is unacceptable and the President should acknowledge this death. We demand complete state honour to the deceased,” Pranab Doley, assistant secretary of All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS)’s Assam Chapter said.
Assam Agriculture Minister and Bokakhat MLA Atul Bora, who received Kovind at the helipad and was travelling in the convoy, confirmed the accident.
“Yes, I have heard about the accident in which one person was killed. But I do not know whose escort vehicles hit him. I did not have any escort today and my vehicle did not hit him,” Bora said over phone.
He later tweeted, “Anguished to learn that a person succumbed to injuries sustained in a road mishap involving a vehicle of Government administration in the Kaziranga area today. My deepest condolences to the deceased’s family. The authorities are helping the affected family in this hour of grief.”
Sources said that the escort vehicles belonged to Golaghat district superintendent of police Sumeet Sharma but no confirmation on the incident could be got from the police despite a number of attempts.
After several calls were made to the SP to confirm the incident, Sharma replied tersely, “Please call after two hours. I am with the Honourable President right now.”
His answer was the same when called again after an hour.
WhatsApp messages sent to two phone numbers of the SP seeking confirmation of the accident remained unanswered.
Repeated calls were made and WhatsApp messages sent to Special DGP (Law and Order) G P Singh, who is in Kaziranga National Park to oversee security arrangements in view of the president’s visit there, also went unanswered.
A call made to Assam Director General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta for information on the incident did not get any response.
The president had reached Bokakhat on Saturday to visit the famous Kaziranga National Park and Tiger reserve and take a jeep safari at its Bagori range after attending the 19th convocation of Tezpur University.
During his overnight stay in the Park, he will view a photo and archival exhibition on conservation there, besides discussing various government initiatives to protect the forest, which is famous the world over as a habitat of one-horned rhinos.
He will spend Saturday night at the Assam Police Guest House in Kaziranga National Park and go on an elephant safari along with his family on Sunday morning. He will leave Assam later in the day, officials said.