LUCKNOW: The one warning staring anyone at the wheel looking back — objects in the mirror are closer than they appear — returned to haunt an 83-year-old retired bus driver of the UP State Road Transport Corporation on Tuesday when police knocked on his door to serve him an arrest warrant for running over abuffalo 29 years ago.
Barabanki resident Achhan, now paralysed and bedridden, and his family members couldn’t believe their ears when the visiting police team from Bareilly’s Faridpur said they had come to arrest him.
Achhan broke down when sub-inspector Vijay Pal showed him the warrant, saying police would have no optionbut to arrest him if he didn’t appear in court on July 17.
The case dates back to 1994, when the then 54-year-old Achhan was driving a government bus from Lucknow to Bareilly via Kaiserbagh. The bus fatally hit a buffalo on the road while passing throughFaridpur, leading to a complaint from the owner and a case of rash driving being registered. The bus was confiscated but released sometime later while Achhan continued in service till his retirement.
Sub-inspector Pal, who is the current investigation officer of the case, told TOI on Wednesday that Acchan hired a lawyer after coming to know of the arrest warrant. “The family has since informed us that he will be present in the Bareilly court on the designated date,” Pal said.
TIMES VIEW
What could have been a genuine reason to serve a warrant nearly three decades ago now seems like a trivial pursuit, bordering on harassment of a 83-year-old. Bareilly police should answer why they took 29 years to serve the warrant and why they have chosen to do so now. The case should be done and dusted as early as possible. An ailing octogenarian deserves better.
Barabanki resident Achhan, now paralysed and bedridden, and his family members couldn’t believe their ears when the visiting police team from Bareilly’s Faridpur said they had come to arrest him.
Achhan broke down when sub-inspector Vijay Pal showed him the warrant, saying police would have no optionbut to arrest him if he didn’t appear in court on July 17.
The case dates back to 1994, when the then 54-year-old Achhan was driving a government bus from Lucknow to Bareilly via Kaiserbagh. The bus fatally hit a buffalo on the road while passing throughFaridpur, leading to a complaint from the owner and a case of rash driving being registered. The bus was confiscated but released sometime later while Achhan continued in service till his retirement.
Sub-inspector Pal, who is the current investigation officer of the case, told TOI on Wednesday that Acchan hired a lawyer after coming to know of the arrest warrant. “The family has since informed us that he will be present in the Bareilly court on the designated date,” Pal said.
TIMES VIEW
What could have been a genuine reason to serve a warrant nearly three decades ago now seems like a trivial pursuit, bordering on harassment of a 83-year-old. Bareilly police should answer why they took 29 years to serve the warrant and why they have chosen to do so now. The case should be done and dusted as early as possible. An ailing octogenarian deserves better.
