Not part of biker gang: Puneet recounts incident,counters police claims
On July 28,the lives of two families changed when a Delhi Police Inspector opened fire at two 19-year-old youth Karan Pandey and Puneet Sharma
On July 28,the lives of two families changed when a Delhi Police Inspector opened fire at two 19-year-old youth — Karan Pandey and Puneet Sharma. While Puneet escaped with a bullet injury on his back,Karan died.
Police claimed that the two were a part of a gang of 150 bikers who were performing stunts next to the Le Meridien hotel in New Delhi district,a high-security area. Police defended the firing claiming that Inspector Rajnish Parmar had fired in self defence and was only trying to puncture the tyre of Puneet’s bike. Instead,they said,he hit the boys accidentally because Puneet performed a wheelie (riding on one wheel).
Speaking to Newsline on Wednesday,Puneet refuted police claims. “I had not met Karan for two months prior to the incident. On July 27,I called him and he said that he wanted to go out. I had got a licence in June and my father gifted me a motorcycle. So,we decided to go to Bangla Sahib gurdwara for tea and pakoras. I picked him up from his house.” Puneet said.
Puneet and Karan had met at a tuition class and had been friends for three years. “We would often go out with his friends. Karan and I would spend time at each other’s houses as well. Our parents knew that we were friends. Karan and I shared everything. He was an honest boy,” Puneet said.
Going back to the incident,Puneet said they rode from Malviya Nagar to Mansingh Road,crossing AIIMS and INA. “At Mansingh Road,we were stopped at a police picket. Since we were wearing helmets and carrying all documents,we were let off. But when we approached the (Le) Meridien roundabout,about seven bikers caught up with us,only to be joined by more. None of them had their helmets on. Karan kept asking me to take the route to the gurdwara. Suddenly,I heard a long siren. Within seconds,I felt as if someone had hit me hard on my back. I couldn’t breathe and was fumbling on the bike. I felt Karan slipping off and stopped the vehicle at the Gol Dak Khana,” Puneet said.
Police said that despite being shot at,Puneet continued riding till Ashoka Road. The inspector gave chase and stopped them at the Gol Dak Khana roundabout. He rushed the two to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital,where Karan succumbed to injuries.
However,Puneet countered this claim too,saying,“If we were running,why would I stop my bike at the Gol Dak Khana?”
He also refuted the stone-pelting theory. “The newspapers say police had made an announcement and that there was stone pelting. I didn’t hear any announcement or see any stone-pelting. There was no warning before police fired.”
Puneet,who completed Class X from Prince Public School in Mehrauli and Classes XI and XII from Agra,accused police of assuming that Karan and he were part of the gang of bikers. “If we were indeed part of the gang,I would have escaped,” he said.
Police had also claimed that Puneet had tested positive for alcohol in his medical examination. However,Puneet said,“I don’t drink. And no matter what they say,I had not consumed alcohol. I have only driven a bike once earlier,in my neighbourhood in Khirki. But I don’t know how to perform stunts. And it would definitely have been difficult to perform a stunt with someone riding pillion. Karan and I have visited the Bangla Sahib about three times earlier,but we never went out to perform stunts.”
Even now,Puneet says he is unable to sleep at night. “I wake up with nightmares. I dream of Karan and start crying. My only appeal to the Commissioner of Police is to bring justice to my friend,” Puneet said.
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