Dears, Earlier this week, the local newspapers reported the incident/accident of a Margao school student falling our of the school bus when its door gave way at the hinges. It was apparently a privately owned school bus and it was overloaded so that the student who fell was actually standing on the footboard of the bus near the door. The door did not open, it FELL out along with the student WHEN THE BUS WAS IN MOTION.
The oHERALDo is the only newspaper that has done the follow-up on the story that needed to be done by any one who lays claim to being a "journalist" in Margao. Its reporter spoke to the Deputy Director-South Goa, Mr. Prakash Azavedo [incidentally, my classmate in school] who had this to say; "WHETHER A CASE IS TO BE REGISTERED OR NOT DEPENDS ON HOW THE PANCHANAMA IS DRAWN UP." What the CRIME is apparently is not as important as to how the PANCHANAMA is drawn up. The accident took place on Monday morning. Till Tuesday evening NO CASE HAS BEEN REGISTERED "as the boy and the bus owner have reached a compromise deal". Can a MINOR [in age, not crime] victim of a crime reach a compromise? Is there a need of a complaint for the Police to register a crime under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988? If yes, who is the "complainant" when the Goa Police and the RTO book motorists for mudane offences not using the seat belt or overspeeding or motorcyclists for not wearing a helmet? Can the same complainant not do the job where a school boy's life is put to risk by 1. not having the vehicle in "road worthy condition" 2. allowing a passenger on the foot board and 3. overcrowding of bus. So just who is the owner of the vehicle/bus that it makes the Police and the RTO to turn a Nelson's eye to the three or more crimes that led to the accident?? I do hope that MR.Gurunath Kelekar and ex-Traffic Superintendent and former IRTE Board Member, Mr.Guradas D. Zuwarkar, who are at the helm of the Margao-based MARG [ Movement for Amity towards Roads, Goa] will ask the relevant questions from the RTO and Margao Police and get the right answers [not silly excuses]. Or will that require the United Goans Welfare Front or the opposition BJP [whose Fatorda Mandal President was injured in another accident] to find out under RTI and agitate? Margao is, after all, the CM's constituency. Mog asundi. Miguel Braganza Fatorda BJP block chief knocked down,condition stable BY HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 17 — In yet another accident on Margao roads involving a mini-bus, BJP Fatorda block president Durgadas Prabhu (38) was knocked down by a mini-bus near Damodar Ling, Fatorda on Tuesday evening. Prabhu sustained severe head injuries and was immediately rushed to Victor Apollo Hospitals. Margao PSI Navlesh Dessai informed that the victim was riding a Pulsor motorcycle (GA 08 C 5042) when he was allegedly dashed by the bus (GA 02 T 4133).The front wheel of the bus reportedly hit the victim's head, causing severe injuries. Meanwhile, a 60-year old scooterist from Curtorim, who met with an accident two days, succumbed to his injuries today. -- -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. Miguel Braganza, S1 Gracinda Apts, Rajvaddo, Mhapsa 403507 Goa Ph 9822982676 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
