SHILLONG: While the driver of the tourist sumo which hit the Chief Minister’s official vehicle at Upper Shillong on February 11 was slapped ‘attempt to murder section’ (307) of IPC without bail and in police custody for three days since Friday, there was a allegedly a different approach when the convoy of the Chief Minister killed a pedestrian in Ri-Bhoi in 2014.
The reason which prompted the police to include attempt to murder section in a traffic violation case is that it was a breach of VIP security as per the FIR filed by inspector in charge, ring-round Chief Minister’ security.
In a contrast to the case, the high speed official convoy (ambulance) trailing the Chief Minister had hit a pedestrian killing him in Ri-Bhoi two years ago on April 20,2014.
Though the driver of the official convoy accompanying the Chief Minister was arrested following the FIR filed by the sister of the victim, he was not placed under section 307 of IPC unlike the February 11 case of the tourist sumo driver. The matter related to Ri Bhoi case came to light only a few days later, when the relatives briefed the media about the incident. The relatives said that the Chief Minister’s convoy was coming in high speed hitting the victim, who was helping his aunt to shift furniture at Sumer.
There was demand from several quarters to provide ex-gratia to the family of the victim and even the Opposition had also raised the matter in the Assembly.
When contacted, a police source from Ri Bhoi said that the investigation related to the matter has been completed, but he did not divulge further details.
