Patiala police crack whip on heavy vehicles in aftermath of Samana accident

The police have carried out a major crackdown on overloaded vehicle plying illegally in Patiala and surrounding towns, impounding nearly 30 trucks operating without valid documents in Samana.

The action comes days after Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Singh Mann assured stern action against violators and follows public outrage over the tragic accident on May 7 near Nassupur, a stretch now dubbed the “killer road”.

In the horrific incident, seven children aged between 6 and 12 years — including four siblings — lost their lives when a sand-laden tipper truck collided head-on with a Toyota Innova ferrying the young victims.

The driver of the offending tipper, Bhupinder Singh alias Bhupi, 19, held only a learner’s license — a fact that has amplified public anger.

A case was registered at Samana Sadar police station against the driver and two others: Davinder Singh, the owner of Khatra Trading Company, and Randhir Singh of Kakrala village.

While Bhupinder Singh was arrested on May 8 and Davinder Singh on May 23, the third accused, Randhir Singh, had been absconding for nearly a month. He was finally apprehended on Monday, following the CM’s personal assurance to the victims’ protesting families.

The families had been sitting on a dharna since May 30 but called off their protest after the CM’s commitment.

During the visit at Samana the CM had also assured a judicial probe into the complaint of illegal mining, but it is yet to be initiated.

A senior police official disclosed that a special drive has been launched targeting overloaded heavy vehicles and illegal tippers operating without valid permits.

As part of the police operation, 30 such vehicles were seized in Samana, and challans were issued to 184 others found violating regulations.

In the meantime, a video has surfaced online showing Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Varun Sharma firmly rejecting

a request — allegedly from a tipper truck owner — for leniency.

In the video, SSP Sharma is heard saying, “Can a tender-aged driver handle such a heavy vehicle? Ask the parents of those children who died in the accident recently. There will be no leniency in this matter.”