Abhimanu
Gaud- the late corporal who lost his life in Kolkata
recently not in a war but because someone was over speeding, broke all barriers
in an inebriated state. Footage shows how he went past all barriers where army
personnel were practising parade for the Republic Day. The road was cordoned
off and inspite of that the guy decided to break it. We have his friend who was
also part of his booze party confirming that they asked him not to drive but
this guy decided not to. The other friends were asked not to enter the cordoned
off area which they complied but this guy didn't. He sped from the area and
even got help from the police how and which way to flee.
Incidentally this guy is the son of a
local politician of the ruling party who along with his son went on a run. They
were not to be found. Local police failed to nab them immediately and when
voices arose; when protests were galore they were found and arrested.
This is not the first time we hear
headlines of hit and run cases of drunk-driving. This has happened numerous times,
we have examples of celebrities too. Drunk-driving has proved to be fatal
countless times but we don't learn. It was sad of the police to bail this guy
out instead of arresting him on the spot. Why the police failed to stop him and
helped him flee? Weren't they aware one day or the other he will be caught? Why
immediate steps were not taken by the government? Is it because the police
were afraid of the political leader whose wrath they may have to face or the
government felt that they are going to loose on their vote banks?
Sambia
Sohrab: that's the name of the killer. My Facebook
was rampant of photos of this guy and the clip of the CCTV footage of his
zooming Audi. How come a 28 year old lad drives a vehicle like Audi? Did he
earn it or was it gifted by his father. Did his father buy it through honest
means or was it the other way round.
I remember when I went to USA a couple
of years back for a training sponsored by the client; we went to one of our client’s
house for dinner. We were accompanied by another man from the same team, He was
offered drinks, and he refused. My colleague from India who was with me took
the offer and I was a teetotaller. Why did this man refuse the drink? He had to
drive back home his wife, us and himself. That's the thought, should be
embedded in every one’s mind. If I have to drink outside my home I should make
sure that I am not driving, I will ask my friends to drop me if they are sober
or else take a taxi.
The Corporal who lost his life doesn't
drive an Audi, instead he makes sure that the city is safe. I really hope that
his perpetrator gets his correct due and no political influence is paid heed to
by the judiciary.
Why can’t the government start
implementing some strict rules across the country against drunken driving?
A report from Times of India:
In a bid to check drunkdriving, the
road transport ministry is pushing for five-fold increase in finefor first-time
offenders while repeat offence will attract stiffer penaltybesides imprisonment
ranging from six months to one year and impounding of thevehicle for one
year.These will form part of the rules once the proposed Road Transport and
SafetyBill become law. The road transport ministry has circulated the latest
versionof the proposed bill vetted by the law ministry to all state governments
fortheir feedback.At present, the fine is up to Rs 2,000 or jail up to six
months for first drunkdriving offence. The new provision proposes Rs 10,000
fine for first timeoffenders.
Rs 2000, that's it and we are still
waiting for the amount of Rs 10000 to be accepted by all states!!! Why such
a lackadaisical attitude against implementing such rules. Why so much
time wasted. So many lives lost. I am sure this is not just one case, there are
many. Surprising is hit and run cases have increased but conviction rates have
decreased.
There is a strict law about wearing
helmets in Kolkata which I haven't seen much anywhere, which I have appreciated
every time when I tell this to my colleagues in my present place of stay. Then
why not against over speeding and drunk driving???? When will our governments start taking prompt actions and instead of fearing for their vote banks?
