Karnal accident: Bus driver held, student bodies protest

KARNAL: Even as the police on Monday arrested the driver of the Haryana Roadways bus that ran over an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) student last week leading to a clash between students and police, a large number of Indian Nation Students' Organisation (INSO) and Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) Yova Morcha workers organized a protest march and burnt an effigy of the state government in the city. They were protesting against the police lathicharge on the ITI students on April 12.

ASI Shyam Sunder said Lal Chand, a resident of Ugala village in Ambala district, was arrested from Karnal bus stand on Monday and he would be produced before a court on Tuesday. He has also been suspended by the transport department.

The INSO and JJP members condemned the lathicharge on staff members and students inside the ITI campus and also demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident, besides compensation and government job for a member of the deceased's family.

Meanwhile, ITI staff has announced that they would work wearing a black badge till action was taken against the culprits. They have also sought strict action against the guilty police personnel.

Uttam Ghangas, INSO district president, said, "The students were protesting against the lack of buses, but the police used tear gas shells and fired in the air to chase them away. The state government is not serious towards the issue of the students. This government believes in clamping the voice of students rather than fulfilling their demands. INSO is standing with the students. The CM should tender an apology to them."

They also gave a two-day ultimatum to the district administration to cancel the cases registered against the students, besides compensation to the family of the deceased otherwise they would protest again.

Additional superintendent of police Mukesh Kumar on Monday recorded the statements of ITI principal Baldev Singh and his staff.