A 53-year-old contractor was arrested while a superintendent and technical supervisor of the Greater Noida Authority were removed from their duties on Sunday in connection with the death of a six-year-old boy who drowned in a 10-feet-deep water-filled pit inside a Knowledge Park 2 residential society in Greater Noida late on Saturday evening.
“Contractor Manoj Jain, 53, a resident of Crossings Republic in Ghaziabad, was arrested on charges of negligence on Sunday, and investigations are ongoing,” said Ravi Shankar Neem, deputy commissioner of police, Greater Noida.
The GNA says a complaint has been filed against the contractor
The Greater Noida Authority said in a statement that it had also filed a complaint against the contractor at Knowledge Park police station. “The contracting company has been blacklisted, and Water Management Supervisor Akash Kumar and Technical Supervisor Johnny Kumar have been removed from their actual duties due to negligence,” the statement read.
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“The names of the Superintendent and Technical Supervisor have also been prioritized for inclusion in the FIR and the CEO has also initiated directions for a departmental inquiry,” the statement read.
The victim, a resident of Kaladham Society in Knowledge Park 2, died after drowning in a 10-feet-deep water-filled pit on Saturday around 7pm while playing with a friend, police said. The accident occurred about 200 to 300 meters from his home.
When the boy’s friend discovered the incident, he rushed back home to alert his family, police said. However, when the minor was rescued and taken to a nearby private hospital, doctors declared him dead.
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The police investigation revealed that the Greater Noida Authority dug the hole about two days ago to address the water crisis in the community. Police found that the site lacked safety measures, such as signs and barriers.
Based on the complaint of the victim’s father, police registered a case late on Saturday night under sections 105 (culpable homicide) and 115 (act endangering life or personal safety) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Knowledge Park police station. Police arrested the contractor on Sunday.
Strict action will be taken against senior officials of the authority if their negligence is found during the investigation, the officials said, adding that strict action will be taken if anyone is found carrying out works without ensuring safety measures at the sites.
Ravi Kumar NG, CEO of Greater Noida Authority, also expressed grief over the incident and directed all work departments to ensure safety measures at all sites under construction.
