Ganesh procession organiser held a month after 19-year-old died amid crowd commotion
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A month after a 19-year-old died following a commotion during a Ganesh Agaman procession in Ramnagar, Musheerabad police arrested one of the organisers for alleged culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The accused, Mohammad Maher Siddiq Ahmed alias Siddiq, 34, a real estate businessman, was arrested around 11.30 p.m. on October 4. Police said he had been absconding in the case.
The incident occurred on September 5 when S. Badrinath, 19, had gone with a friend to attend the Ganesh Agaman procession at Ramnagar. Around 9 p.m., he stopped responding to calls from his father, who was later informed that Badrinath had been taken to Gandhi Hospital. Doctors declared him dead.
An investigation by Musheerabad police found that Siddiq, one of the organisers, had arranged large stages and trusses, heavy illumination, multiple bands, DJ and sound systems and loudspeakers for the programme.
Police alleged that the organisers had failed to obtain proper permissions for erecting the truss, using loud DJ systems and bursting firecrackers. Despite repeated warnings from police personnel, the organisers allegedly continued using sound systems beyond permissible limits.
During the programme, firecrackers were allegedly burst close to the crowd, triggering a sudden commotion, panic and uncontrolled movement of people. Badrinath collapsed near Sowmya Hospital during the commotion and was subsequently shifted to Gandhi Hospital.
Police alleged that Siddiq and others had acted negligently despite having knowledge of the likely danger to human life. A case was registered under Section 105 read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. He was produced before the XVII Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court at Nampally.
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