Prime Minister's security being blamed for Kanpur boy's death

Kanpur, July 9 (ANI): The parents of eight-year-old boy Aman Khan, who died in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur city earlier this month, have put the blame on Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's security for their son's demise.

They alleged that their son died after roadblocks erected during the Prime Minister's recent visit to Kanpur.

The grieving parents blamed the security measures barring public movement on main road, for their son's demise, and said he could not be rendered timely medical treatment after he had suffered a head injury while playing.

Aman suffered serious head injuries at around 3 p.m. on July 3 after the iron gate at his home fell on him.

Consequently, his father Tamaddun Hussain rushed him to the hospital, but was apparently delayed by 30 minutes because of traffic restrictions imposed during Dr Singh's visit.

Aman's mother Usha Sharma also recalled the tragic event.

"My son suffered an injury in the head while playing. So, my daughter and my husband were taking him to the hospital. On the way, the police stopped them at various points and didn't let them proceed. They said that the Prime Minister was visiting the city and for security reasons, none could go ahead," said Usha Sharma.

"My husband and daughter requested the police officials, but they did not heed and stopped them from reaching the hospital. This led to my son's death before reaching the hospital," she added.

Usha Sharma further mentioned that she has written a letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi in this regard to point out the 'inhuman behaviour' of the police.

In the letter, she has asked Sonia Gandhi to ensure that similar tragedy does not befall on anyone else in the future.

Kanpur District Magistrate Mukesh Meshram, however, said it is not yet sure, whether the boy died because of the roadblocks erected for the Prime Minister's visit.

"The cavalcade of Prime Minister was passing by that circle; so they were stopped there for 15 minutes. When they reached the hospital, the doctors declared that the boy was brought dead. The doctors have not yet given the details of the timings of the boy's death, so it's not yet sure that the boy died because of the roadblocks erected for the Prime Minister's visit," said Meshram.

"While playing, the boy fell somewhere so he suffered a head injury. So, we cannot give a conclusion that the boy died because the security men stopped them as the Prime Minister's convoy was passing," he added.

The Prime Minister had visited Kanpur in July 3 to attend the convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and address the Merchants Chamber of Uttar Pradesh. (ANI)