MUMBAI: A teenager who was part of a group of youngsters playing cards while keeping vigil at a Ganesh pandal in Virar died after allegedly tripping while trying to escape cops on patrolling duty early on Saturday. While a case of accidental death was registered at Arnala police station, relatives and villagers who gathered outside the hospital blamed the police for the death.
Prachit Bhoir (18) a resident of Agashi, Virar (west), was at the Ganesh pandalwith six or seven boys, playing cards to stay awake and man the idol. Around 2.45 am, a patrol vehicle of Arnala police station was passing by. On seeing the cops, the youngsters got up from their chairs and began running in different directions. Prachit, who was engrossed in his cellphone, also ran. He tripped on a heap of bamboos lying around and fell.
Prachit was taken to a private hospital and later moved to Sanjeevani Hospital, Virar, where he was declared dead. Villagers, including relatives, rushed to the hospital. Police security was enhanced outside the hospital as the crowd demanded action against the cops. They alleged that the three cops had threatened the youngsters playing cards and they were intoxicated. Villagers demanded the cops undergo a medical test. There was no CCTV near the pandal.
Prachit, who had passed class 12, was the only son of his parents. His family alleged that the cops may have threatened and chased the boys. Villagers said the boys were playing cards to stay awake and they were not gambling. They alleged that the cops should not have ‘raided’ the pandal. They said even last year cops landed at the pandal and warned youngsters from playing cards.
The villagers alleged that even after Prachit fell down, the cops continued to chase the others. ACP Rajendra Mokashi said the cops had not raided the pandal. The vehicle was moving past the pandal when the boys began running. -Sandhya Nair
Prachit Bhoir (18) a resident of Agashi, Virar (west), was at the Ganesh pandalwith six or seven boys, playing cards to stay awake and man the idol. Around 2.45 am, a patrol vehicle of Arnala police station was passing by. On seeing the cops, the youngsters got up from their chairs and began running in different directions. Prachit, who was engrossed in his cellphone, also ran. He tripped on a heap of bamboos lying around and fell.
Prachit was taken to a private hospital and later moved to Sanjeevani Hospital, Virar, where he was declared dead. Villagers, including relatives, rushed to the hospital. Police security was enhanced outside the hospital as the crowd demanded action against the cops. They alleged that the three cops had threatened the youngsters playing cards and they were intoxicated. Villagers demanded the cops undergo a medical test. There was no CCTV near the pandal.
Prachit, who had passed class 12, was the only son of his parents. His family alleged that the cops may have threatened and chased the boys. Villagers said the boys were playing cards to stay awake and they were not gambling. They alleged that the cops should not have ‘raided’ the pandal. They said even last year cops landed at the pandal and warned youngsters from playing cards.
The villagers alleged that even after Prachit fell down, the cops continued to chase the others. ACP Rajendra Mokashi said the cops had not raided the pandal. The vehicle was moving past the pandal when the boys began running. -Sandhya Nair
