KOLKATA: Family members of Sajal Kanjilal have lodged two separate complaints of negligence against Metro Railway authorities at Shakespeare Sarani and Kasba police stati-ons following his horrific death at Park Street station.
Acting on the complaints, police have initiated a case of death due to negligence against Kolkata Metro authorities. “We have started a case under Sections 304A and 34 of Indian Penal Code. We have also sought the CCTV footage from the Metro authorities and will question the persons concerned,” said a senior officer at Lalbazar.
The first complaint at Shakespeare Sarani police station was lodged on Saturday night by Kanjilal’s cousin Rajkumar Mukherjee, who alleged that the accident had occurred due to “complete negligence by the authorities of Metro Railway at Park Street who are liable for such irreparable loss”.
The second complaint lodged at Kasba police station was also on the same lines. Mukherjee has sought legal action against the authorities concerned and those responsible for his cousin’s death.
Sajal Kanjilal’s cousin Rajkumar Mukherjee said: “I have never heard of any such accident in Metro all my life. How could the driver and officials at the station do nothing even as someone was being dragged along? Yesterday it was my brother, tomorrow it could be someone else if the authorities don’t hold anyone accountable for the incident and take necessary steps.”
A familiar face on Nandan, Rabindra Sadan and Academy of Fine Arts premises where he was fondly called by his last name Kanjilal, the senior citizen used to sell little magazines and theatre books around the campus. He had also acted in a number of plays. Kanjilal was also a popular name at Government Art College, where he occasionally posed before painters as a nude model. He was also a keen dancer and was once part of a popular classical dance troupe in the city.
“He was an artist. He was a keen dancer and would often recite plays. He was also a keen reader and would spend hours reading little magazines that he loved and used to sell, without bothering about financial gains,” said Sarmistha Mukherjee, Kanjilal’s sister-in-law, at their Bosepukur home on Sunday.
The youngest among seven siblings, Kanjilal used to live with his family at a Charu Market rented address since birth. He was a bachelor and following the death of his parents and that of an elder brother, he shifted to the Bosepukur house of his cousin Rajkumar eight years ago. All his brothers and sisters had passed away by then, said Sarmistha.
“I have no clue why he was in such a hurry on Saturday. He was otherwise a very sensible and relaxed person. I don’t know why he tried to board the train in a hurry and then the Metro authorities were so irresponsible that they drove the train with his hand stuck between the doors,” she added.
Kanjilal’s body was taken to the Academy of Fine Arts by his relatives and a group of theatre workers before being taken to the Keoratola crematorium.
“I have always known Sajalda as a talented actor. He earned his living by selling little magazines. I just hope the authorities investigate his death properly and take necessary action at the earliest,” said actor Ushashi Chakraborty, who came to the morgue to pay homage to Kanjilal.
Earlier in the day, a group of theatre artists submitted a memorandum to the Park Street Metro station manager asking the authorities to conduct a free and fair probe and ensure that such accidents don’t happen in future.
Acting on the complaints, police have initiated a case of death due to negligence against Kolkata Metro authorities. “We have started a case under Sections 304A and 34 of Indian Penal Code. We have also sought the CCTV footage from the Metro authorities and will question the persons concerned,” said a senior officer at Lalbazar.
TimesView
Safety is of paramount importance in mass transit systems and Saturday's death raises a lot of questions. Metro Railway needs to look at these issues very, very closely. Complaints have been going up with the age of the system and the new rakes have not been able to solve all the issues. But commuter behaviour, too, needs to change and become more responsible. What is a few minutes compared to human life? We must remember that there is always a next train.
The first complaint at Shakespeare Sarani police station was lodged on Saturday night by Kanjilal’s cousin Rajkumar Mukherjee, who alleged that the accident had occurred due to “complete negligence by the authorities of Metro Railway at Park Street who are liable for such irreparable loss”.
The second complaint lodged at Kasba police station was also on the same lines. Mukherjee has sought legal action against the authorities concerned and those responsible for his cousin’s death.
Sajal Kanjilal’s cousin Rajkumar Mukherjee said: “I have never heard of any such accident in Metro all my life. How could the driver and officials at the station do nothing even as someone was being dragged along? Yesterday it was my brother, tomorrow it could be someone else if the authorities don’t hold anyone accountable for the incident and take necessary steps.”
A familiar face on Nandan, Rabindra Sadan and Academy of Fine Arts premises where he was fondly called by his last name Kanjilal, the senior citizen used to sell little magazines and theatre books around the campus. He had also acted in a number of plays. Kanjilal was also a popular name at Government Art College, where he occasionally posed before painters as a nude model. He was also a keen dancer and was once part of a popular classical dance troupe in the city.
“He was an artist. He was a keen dancer and would often recite plays. He was also a keen reader and would spend hours reading little magazines that he loved and used to sell, without bothering about financial gains,” said Sarmistha Mukherjee, Kanjilal’s sister-in-law, at their Bosepukur home on Sunday.
The youngest among seven siblings, Kanjilal used to live with his family at a Charu Market rented address since birth. He was a bachelor and following the death of his parents and that of an elder brother, he shifted to the Bosepukur house of his cousin Rajkumar eight years ago. All his brothers and sisters had passed away by then, said Sarmistha.
“I have no clue why he was in such a hurry on Saturday. He was otherwise a very sensible and relaxed person. I don’t know why he tried to board the train in a hurry and then the Metro authorities were so irresponsible that they drove the train with his hand stuck between the doors,” she added.
Kanjilal’s body was taken to the Academy of Fine Arts by his relatives and a group of theatre workers before being taken to the Keoratola crematorium.
“I have always known Sajalda as a talented actor. He earned his living by selling little magazines. I just hope the authorities investigate his death properly and take necessary action at the earliest,” said actor Ushashi Chakraborty, who came to the morgue to pay homage to Kanjilal.
Earlier in the day, a group of theatre artists submitted a memorandum to the Park Street Metro station manager asking the authorities to conduct a free and fair probe and ensure that such accidents don’t happen in future.
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