Moneylife: Pune: Saturday,
September 24, 2016.
On 1 February
2013, Parag Ingle, an 8th standard student from the prestigious Loyola High
School of Pune, was hit on the forehead with a bullet that came from the rifle
of a junior officer of National Cadet Corps (NCC) who was training him and his
classmates on NCC grounds. His family was crushed with grief. Parag, who was a
wizard at elocution and drama competitions in school, sunk into a coma at the
Command Hospital. And that lasted for two years from 1 February 2013 until he
breathed his last on 6 January 2016.
His father,
Devendra Ingle, an engineer at the Pune Municipal Corp, knocked at the NCC
Headquarters wanting to know was how his son died and what were the
circumstances that led to his death as well as what action was been taken
against Amod Ghanekar, the junior officer, who shot Parag? He did not get any
answers nor was any action taken against Ghanekar, who instead went to court,
claiming his innocence.
The Pune
Police report categorically nailed Ghanekar. The report states “Without having
any revolver license or having any authority to conduct firing, Amod Ghanekar
stood behind the boys, handled the .22 rifle in an irresponsible manner, loaded
and despite the knowledge that it would be grievous or fatal if a student
suddenly gets up, he fired. A bullet hit Parag on his forehead and he was
grievously injured. Thus, it is an attempt to kill, by Ghanekar.”
Ingle, came
with the Central Information Commission (CIC) notice to this author. He said,
“See, I kept waiting for justice by CIC since the time I filed my second appeal
on 7 October 2014. Since my son was battling for life, I filed RTI application
with the Additional Directorate General of Army Education, New Delhi, in
mid-September 2014, seeking information on the following. On 1 February 2013,
at NCC Headquarters, Pune, my son NCC Cadet Master Parag Devendra Ingle was
gravely injured when he was shot with five bullets by a .22 Rifle. He is still
unconscious. I would like to get all the information and papers regarding the
action taken by the Army on all the Army Officers and In-charge person
connected to this incident. I would also like to know the nature of punishment
was given to the person responsible for this incident.”
Since he got
no information, he filed second appeal way back in September 2014 with CIC and
now he says, “I have got notice for hearing on 28 September 2016, which I have
to attend, via video conferencing, when I have already lost my precious son.’’
In what can
be called as complete apathy by the CIC, his second appeal was simply filed
away. Could the CIC not have shown some sensitivity towards such a shocking
case, that even a stranger would feel the pangs of pain? Should the CIC not
have considered an out-of-turn hearing? Should all second appeals be treated in
a nonchalant manner?
The CIC
notice dated 12 September 2016 has asked Central Public Information Officer
(CPIO), in the Ministry of Defence, NCC Group Headquarters, Pune and CPIO of
Head Quarter, DG NCC, West Block IV, RK Puram to be present, besides Devendra
Ingle, who as complainant would be present through video conference. Despite
the delay and post his son’s death, Ingle says “…does not matter if my son had
died. I still want to know what were the sequence of events that led to his
death. What action has been taken against other NCC officers, besides Ghanekar
who has merely been suspended.”
RTI activist
Vijay Kumbhar who co-petitioned the second appeal states, “This is a classic
case of the CIC being totally cold and clinical towards some second appeals
which may call for great urgency in disposal. It is sad that there was no one
to apply balm on Ingle’s grief, not even the RTI Act, which has been enacted to
empower a common man.”
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