Labourer who spotted biker in pit arrested

NEW DELHI: A labourer who first spotted 25-year-old biker Kamal Dhyani lying injured in a 14-foot-deep pipeline pit and allegedly failed to alert authorities has been arrested from Firozabad in UP.Yogesh (23) was present at the Janakpuri site when Dhyani fell into the pit late Thursday and informed his boss, sub-contractor Rajesh Kumar Prajapati, who also reached the site, saw Dhyani and allegedly left without informing police or arranging any rescue. Prajapati was arrested Saturday and remanded in police custody for one day.

Investigators said an eyewitness, Vipin Singh, saw the motorcycle fall into the pit and alerted a nearby residential complex guard, who then informed Yogesh.Meanwhile, a candlelight march was organised to mourn Dhyani’s death and demand accountability for the lapse. According to a PTI report, AAP’s Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj was briefly detained, with police saying the action was taken as he was trying to stage a protest.According to police, Yogesh reached the spot and saw Dhyani lying in the pit with the motorcycle’s headlight still on. At 12.22am, he called Prajapati, who reached the site within 15-20 minutes from his Tri Nagar residence.Dhyani remained in the pit for almost eight hours before police were alerted around 8.03am by a woman passing by while dropping her son to school. According to her family, she initially informed a security guard who paid no attention. As bystanders hesitated to contact police, she dialled PCR herself.Police have questioned security guards to establish the sequence of events and are set to examine the main contractor who hired Prajapati. Sources said Prajapati made 2-3 phone calls on the night of the incident, and those he contacted will be questioned. Investigation revealed the pit had been freshly dug a day before the accident. While another older excavation nearby was familiar to regular commuters, this new pit allegedly lacked proper barricading.