Punjab Minister Capt Kanwaljit Dies In Car Crash

[SSNews]

Kharar, Punjab: Senior Punjab Cabinet Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh was killed in a car accident on the Chandigarh-Ludhiana National Highway-95 in Kharar on Sunday evening. The four-time MLA’s driver Parminder Singh and Personal Security Officer (PSO) Rattan Singh sustained injuries in the mishap. The demise of Capt. Kanwaljit Singh sent wave shocks in Punjab.

Capt Kanwaljit Singh was elected MLA for the third term from Banur assembly constituency. He has served as home minister and Finance Minister in previous two SAD governments. Born on September 1, 1942 Capt Kanwaljit Singh took active part in Dharam Yudh Morcha during emergency declared by late PM Indira Gandhi. He went to jail several times during agitation on Punjab’s demands.

The accident took place around 5 pm when the Hyundai Elantra car in which the Minister for Cooperation, Defence Services Welfare, Removal of Grievances, Pensions and Welfare of Pensioners was returning from Ludhiana, collided head-on with a ten-tyred truck, coming from the opposite direction, stated by Station House Officer (SHO) Sub-Inspector Dalbeer Singh. Incidentally, the minister was not travelling in a official car, the use of which is prohibited under the model code. The Elantra car involved in the accident belonged to his aide Prem Singh, sarpanch of Dhakoli village in Dera Bassi.

Constable Ravinder Singh, an eyewitness, said the minister’s car, which was moving at a high speed, was hit by the ten-tyred truck before it collided head-on with another truck coming from the same direction. The truck drivers, both of who fled the spot, applied the brakes but could not avoid the collision.

The impact of the accident was so strong that both the front airbags of the car burst. The 66-year-old Akali leader and his 25-year-old driver were trapped on the front seats of the badly crushed car, while the PSO, who escaped with minor injuries, pulled them out before their escort police party rushed them to the nearby Kharar civil hospital.

Dr Sumeet who attended to the said an unconscious Capt Kanwaljit was gasping for life when he was brought in. “He was bleeding profusely from the head with his face and both arms badly crushed,” she said. Capt Kanwaljit was given life-saving first-aid before being referred to the PGIMER in Chandigarh.

According to PGIMER officials, he reached PGIMER at 5:50 PM and was critically injured. A team of doctors in PGIMER made all possible efforts to save Captain kanwaljit Singh who along with two others sustained injuries. “Captain Singh, 65 years of age was in Polytrauma condition and he died at around 8:30,” said a doctor.

Other two persons travelling in the car were Parminder, 33 and Ratan Singh, 45. They sustained serious injuries during the accident. Doctors inmformed that both are in polytrauma condition and we are trying to revive them.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, formwer Chief Minsiter Capt Amarinder Singh and several ministers expressed shock over demise of Capt Kanwaljit Singh.

Capt Kanwaljit Singh and his son Jasjit Singh Bunny share some information at their house in Chandigarh.

Capt Kanwaljit Singh and his son Jasjit Singh Bunny share some information at their house in Chandigarh.

Captain Kanwaljit Singh was considered a man of principles and an upright politician. He was respected as visionary leader who was guide for the present Akali leadership. He was general secretary in SAD (Longowal) and SAD (Badal). He has widely travelled abroad and changed the face of cooperative movement in Punjab. He is survived by his wife Sarabjit Kaur and son Jasjit Singh Bunny who is Chairman of Punjab cooperative Bank.

Bir Devinder Singh former deputy Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha also expressed grief over the demise of capt Kanwaljit Singh. He described him a a gentleman politician. The Punjab Governor, General (Retd.) S.F. Rodrigues has expressed deep shock over the sad demise of Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Cooperation Minister Punjab.

Describing Capt. Kanwaljit Singh as a seasoned politician and an able administrator, General Rodrigues said that his contribution in different facets of national life will be ever remembered. He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the members of bereaved family.

Punjab government on Sunday declared holiday on Monday, March 30 and seven days mourning as a tribute to departed Akali leader and cooperation minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh. He died Sunday in a road accident.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has called meeting of his cabinet on Monday to pay tributes to Capt Kanwaljit Singh. He has expressed deep shock over the demise of senior party functionary and a visionary leader.

Punjab Chief Secretary Ramesh Inder Singh has ordered a magisterial inquiry by Patiala Divisional Commissioner Jasbir Singh Bir. The Kharar police have registered a case against the truck drivers.