Hit by vehicle, 70-yr-old cyclist killed

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 10

A 70-year-old cyclist was killed after he was hit by a vehicle in the wee hours on Monday.

The deceased has been identified as Harbans Singh, who retired as an inspector from the SGPC. He was returning his home in Akash Avenue from the Golden Temple when the accident took place near Government Medical College on the Circular road.

“For the past eight years, he had been performing his duty as ‘pathi’ at the Golden Temple.

His duty used to finish at 2 am and reaches his home by 3:30 am,” said deceased’s son Parduman Singh. Harbans had left for his home around 2:30 am.

The body was lying in a pool of blood when it was spotted by this correspondent around 6:15 am. After getting information, the police reached the spot at 6:35 am. Though a few commuters saw the body lying in the middle of the road, they did not inform the police.

“It seems that he died due to excessive bleeding as nobody cared to stop and inform the police or ambulance about the incident. I have heard stories of insensitivity many times, but I experienced such pain for the first time,” said Parduman.

The family believes that Harbans is a victim of a drunken driving case. “The accused, who hit my father should have stopped and tried to help him,” said Parduman.

Police officers said a case had been registered at the Majitha Road police station and they were trying to check CCTV cameras installed on the road to identify the vehicle.