Uttar Pradesh: Police Initiates SIT Probe Over Youth Worker's Death During Congress Protest In Lucknow

The Police has constituted a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to probe the death of Congress worker Prabhat Pandey a young Congress worker from Sahjanwa, Gorakhpur, during Congress protest against Home Minister Amit Shah in Lucknow.

A police spokesman said that on the instructions of the Police Commissioner, DCP (Central) Ravina Tyagi has constituted an SIT to investigate the matter. The police inspected the site where Prabhat Pandey died during a protest. Accompanied by Prabhat’s uncle and complainant, Manish Pandey, the police examined room number 30, which had been sealed after the incident, and questioned office staff about the events leading to Prabhat's death.

According to staff members, Prabhat was placed on a mattress in the room when he started feeling unwell. Police have recorded statements from all those present.

ACP Hazratganj Vikas Jaiswal said that Manish Pandey had initially gone to Gorakhpur for Prabhat’s last rites and later returned to Lucknow to visit the Congress office. Staff member Dwarka was the first to inform Manish about the incident and was questioned regarding the sequence of events.

The police also interrogated Giyas Mohammad, the driver of the Innova car that transported Prabhat to the Civil Hospital, and recorded Manish’s statement. Manish stated that he was unaware of who had called Prabhat to the Congress office for the protest.

Prabhat’s mobile phone, which Manish had taken to Gorakhpur, was seized by the police. The data on the phone, including messages and chats, is being examined to determine who invited Prabhat to the Congress protest. However, no clear leads have emerged so far regarding the individual responsible for bringing Prabhat to the event.

The Husain Ganj police are investigating possible negligence by Congress office staff and workers. Authorities suspect that a delay in taking Prabhat to the hospital may have worsened the situation. They are identifying individuals who brought Prabhat to the room after he collapsed outside the office.

The Incident

Prabhat Pandey, who had come to participate in the protest, was found unconscious in the Congress office on Wednesday evening. He was declared dead upon arrival at the Civil Hospital. His uncle, Manish Pandey, a resident of Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, filed a murder report against unidentified individuals at the Husain Ganj police station.

Prabhat had been preparing for competitive exams while staying in a PG near Amity University. The circumstances surrounding his death have raised several unanswered questions, which the SIT aims to address.