Family left to fend for itself
SHILLONG: Though Jeskalur L. Mawdoh, the driver of the tourist vehicle which had accidently hit the official vehicle of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma at Upper Shillong on February 9, was released on bail from Shillong jail on Thursday, the magistrate has imposed certain conditions for his free movement following the charge sheet filed by the police.
Earlier, instead of booking the driver under sections of the Motor Vehicles Act, police had slapped Section 307 IPC on him which is attempt to murder.
However, under pressure, in a U-turn, police dropped the attempt to murder charge and charge sheeted him under IPC sections of 279 (rash and negligent driving), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees and above).
As per the conditions set by the magistrate, Mawdoh should not hamper the investigation or tamper with the evidence of the case. Moreover, the accused person should appear before the court on each and every date fixed. “The accused shall not abscond and leave the jurisdiction of the court without prior permission or intimation,” says another condition.
Sources said that there were also question marks on how investigation was carried out by the Traffic branch since the police had slapped Section 307 IPC which had nothing to do with investigation under the Motor Vehicles Act.
Sources added that even if there are casualties following road accidents, Section 307 is never used in the traffic related cases.
According to sources, the overzealous Meghalaya police wanted to please the chief minister as his vehicle was involved in the accident.
Officer Smith Mawphniang, who looks after the security ring of the chief minister, stated in his FIR that legal action should be taken against the driver since the chief minister is a VIP.
However, the driver revealed that the accident was not caused by him.
“On hearing the siren of a VIP car coming from behind, I immediately moved to the left side to pave way for it. But there was a bike in front of my vehicle and when I took a small turn to avoid the bike, the chief minister’s car grazed my car,” Mawdoh told reporters on Thursday.
The lone fighter
There was no one at Shillong jail on Thursday except the parents and two pastors to receive Mawdoh, hailing from Mairang in West Khasi Hills after he was released, unlike the ‘heroic’ welcome a member of any pressure group gets.
Though a few pressure groups and political parties had expressed concern over the episode, no one came to the rescue of the driver and the poor family was left to fend for itself to fight the case spending whatever meager amount of money they had saved.
Earlier on Thursday, the family had expressed helplessness due to poverty and having ‘no connections with the higher ups’.
“I am very sad that I am accused of trying to kill the chief minister. I am a poor man; I have no ill will against anyone. I have no intention to harm or kill the chief minister. It was not my mistake. I only tried to avoid hitting the bike. But if it is my mistake, I beg for forgiveness. In jail I prayed to God as I did not do anything wrong,” Jeskalur had told media persons.
The driver said that he had also sought pardon from some police officers at that time but no one listened to him.
According to the mother of the accused, the incident had brought agony to the family and the entire village.
“We only pray to God to relieve us of this trouble,” she said.
The father of the driver said that the family is in deep shock over the incident.
According to the father, the poor family had lost the entire week since February 11.
“We took loan for our son’s release and we are happy that he had been released,” he said.
The couple has nine children with Jeskalur being the third.