Amritsar train accident: Organizers had police permission but did not have MC, other permissions

Sources pointed out that the ground is too small to hold such functions. The area is congested. Locals claimed permission was denied to the organisers last year.

The site of a railway accident near the venue of Dussehra festivities at Joda Phatak in Amritsar | PTI

AMRITSAR: The organisers of the Dussehra festivity at Dhobi Ghat ground in Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu's constituency had police clearance, but they neither did have permission from the municipal corporation nor any clearance from health department and fire brigade.

"The function was organised by Mithu Madan's family. Mithu's mother Vijay Madan is a Congress councillor of the area," Amritsar Police Commissioner SS Srivastava said.

The ground belongs to the municipal corporation. The corporation has allotted the spot located at a residential area along the railway track to washermen. Amritsar Municipal Commissioner Sonali Giri said nobody was given the permission for organising the Dussehra event. "Moreover, nobody had applied for the permission with the municipal corporation."

Sources pointed out that the ground is too small to hold such functions. The area is congested. Locals claimed permission was denied to the organisers last year. The Ravan effigy was installed in the middle of the residential area, barely 50 ft from the track.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Amrik Singh Pawar said the permission was given after the station house officer concerned gave clearance to the site.

Sources said that the police gave the permission as the organizers are led by Saurabh Mithu Madan, son of area councillor Vijay Madan. The councilor is said to be close to the family of Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Navjot Kaur Sidhu, former MLA and wife of Punjab minister Navjot Sidhu, was the chief guest of the event. "There were so many programmes to attend. So, I did have the time to check whether the permission for the event was taken or not,'' she said.

Amritsar Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu said there was negligence on part of the railways and the train's driver as he failed to spot the crowd on the railway track. "The district administration and the police were to be approached for necessary permissions for holding such an event."

In a political slug match, the Akali Dal, the BJP and the AAP have demanded strict action against those individuals who gave permission for holding the event and demanded the resignation of Sidhu and registration of case against the organisers. "It is not a suitable site. Verbally, we had been requesting the Eailways to ensure caution and they would agree. The trains would pass at slow speed," former Congress leader Mandeep Singh Manna said.