The judicial probe ordered by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu into the stampede at the Kotagummam ghat in Rajahmundry on the inaugural day of Godavari Maha Pushkaram that claimed 28 lives is yet to begin.
A case was booked on this incident under IPC section 174 (suspicious death) and the investigation was entrusted to newly recruited Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Central Zone (Rajahmundry). The East Godavari district administration has also no clue about the probe and its proceedings.
“I have submitted the preliminary report to the government. We are yet to get any order pertaining to judicial probe and its terms of reference ,” said East Godavari Collector H. Arun Kumar.
Further, the investigations on the major fire that broke out near Gokavaram bus stand, smashing a transformer, three police vehicles and some shops, have made a little headway. The police also have made little progress in the bomb blast case that occurred near Kotipalli bus stand 10 days before the river fest.
According to police sources, the special team comprising Inspectors, Sub-Inspectors, and Head Constables have made 180 enquiries on the Pushkar Ghat incident so far. “We are getting different versions from people” Deputy Superintendent of Police Kulasekhar said. However, he could not say how much time it would take to complete the investigation.
AP Bar Council Member and senior Advocate Muppalla Subba Rao said that such cases are first registered under Section the 174 of IPC and converted after identifying the culprits.
On the fire accident, the Three Town Police Inspector said that they had booked a case under “accidental fire” and Regional Forensic Lab professors from Vijayawada have already collected the samples.
The police will submit a report, before the RFL report reaches the government, he added.
In the bomb blast case, South Zone DSP Sravani said the investigation on the explosion near Kotipalli bus stand was on. However, the forensic lab report mentioned that explosives used in making crackers were identified at the blast site.
Investigations on fire at Gokavaram bus and bomb blast near Kotipalli bus stand make little headway
