A tragic accident during the Punjab bandh claimed the life of a senior Punjab Police constable on Thursday, raising serious questions about the safety measures adopted to enforce road blockades during protests.
Identification of the victim
Senior Constable Ranbir Singh, posted with the Armed Reserve Police (ARP) and a resident of Batala, lost his life after his scooter struck a rope tied across Bhandari Bridge in Amritsar to restrict traffic during the bandh. The incident has left the police fraternity in mourning and triggered calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Preliminary information about the incident
According to preliminary information, Ranbir Singh had completed his duty and was returning home when the accident occurred. Reports suggest he had received an urgent phone call from his family informing him that his son had been injured. Concerned for his child, he immediately left for home.
As he crossed Bhandari Bridge on his Activa scooter, he allegedly failed to notice a rope that had been stretched across the road to block traffic because of the statewide shutdown. The rope reportedly struck him directly on the neck, causing him to lose control of the scooter and crash onto the road.
Eyewitnesses and fellow police personnel rushed to his aid and shifted him to the Civil Hospital in Amritsar. However, doctors declared him dead on arrival.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the Punjab Police, with colleagues describing the loss as both heartbreaking and preventable.
Police investigation on the matter
Police have initiated an investigation to determine whether the rope barrier had been installed following proper safety protocols. Officials are expected to examine whether adequate warning signs, reflective markers, barricades or traffic personnel were deployed to alert approaching motorists before the road was blocked.
The probe will also determine who authorised the traffic restriction and whether negligence played a role in the fatal accident.
Importance of safety during demonstrations
The tragedy has once again highlighted the importance of balancing public demonstrations with road safety. Temporary traffic restrictions are often imposed during protests and bandhs, but experts say they must be accompanied by visible warning signs, reflective barricades, proper lighting and trained personnel to prevent accidents, particularly on busy roads and flyovers.
The death of a police officer while returning home from duty has also intensified concerns over the risks faced by emergency personnel during large-scale protests. While the Punjab bandh remained largely peaceful in several areas, the fatal accident at Bhandari Bridge has become one of its most tragic incidents.
As investigators piece together the sequence of events, the focus is now on whether standard operating procedures were followed and if the accident could have been prevented through better planning and safety measures.
For the family of Ranbir Singh, however, the questions come too late. A routine journey home after duty ended in an unimaginable loss, turning an already tense day into a personal tragedy that has resonated across the state.
