The incident in Saharanpur was captured in a three minute video and has gone viral on social media.
Highlights
- Policemen reportedly refuse to help two teenagers who met with accident
- They reportedly didn't want blood to stain the seats of their patrol car
- In 2016, UP had started project to increase patrol cars for prompt action
Two teenagers lay bleeding on the road in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur as three policemen who had arrived in response to an emergency call didn't want any blood stains in their patrol vehicle on Thursday. The boys, both 17, died before they could finally reach the hospital.
After a video taken by a bystander on his cellphone went viral, the policemen were suspended.
"They are also somebody's children... I request you..." an acquaintance of one of the teenagers is heard pleading with the policemen in the video that lays bare the insensitivity of these policemen.
"Nobody else has a car here. Take them," a man, his voice quivering, repeatedly requests the policemen.
But a policemen while dismissing their pleas says, "It will stain our car."
"Your car can be washed but..." another voice tells the policemen.
"When the car goes for a wash, where will we sit all night," retorts one of them.
Arpit Khurana and Sunny Garg were going home on a motorcycle when they hit a pole and were flung into a drain. Passersby rushed to help and called a Dial 100 vehicle. The three cops who were on night patrol as part of the state police's Dial 100 project reached the spot, but didn't take the accident victims to the hospital. They were reluctant to get their car seats soiled by blood. Instead, they stood there as others tried to stop passing vehicles to ask for help.
In 2016, the Uttar Pradesh government implemented a statewide system of police patrolling through a project called Dial 100 that gave the police more vehicles for prompt action.
By the time another vehicle from the local police station arrived, it was already too late. The boys were declared brought dead at the hospital.
The cops went on with their lives till the three minute video surfaced.
KS Emmanuel, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Saharanpur Range, says, "It's an unfortunate incident. The policemen acted in an extremely inhuman way. We are taking strict action against them. For now they have been suspended. I have asked for a report in 24 hours before further action."
He added they will not hesitate to file an FIR and take necessary action.
However, there are no answers yet on whether a criminal case will be initiated against the policemen.
At Sunny's home, his family doesn't know how to deal with grief and intense anger. Sunny's father has terminal cancer. The boy, who was still studying, used to do odd jobs to help run the family.
"Had my child received first aid in time, he could have been saved. Even the doctors say he was brought late to the hospital. It is a murder. I want action against the cops," said his father.
"I have seen slogans on police cars about how they are eager to help at any time of the day. Please remove that line if you do not want to help. Had there been a policeman's son in place of Sunny, would they have done the same? asks a relative.