Pune: NCC Teacher Gets Seven Years In Jail For Accidentally Shooting Student
Pune, 13th April 2023: Amod Anil Ghanekar (37), a NCC teacher, has been sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for accidentally shooting NCC cadet Parag Devendra Ingale (13) in the head during a fire practice session in February 2013.
The incident happened at the NCC headquarters at Senapati Bapat Road, Pune. Ghanekar had taken 46 students from Loyola High School, where he was an assistant teacher, to the firing range for the practice of firing through .22 rifles. While standing behind the students, Ghanekar fired a bullet through a .22 rifle without any licence or authority, hitting Parag in the head. Parag remained in a coma for three years and passed away due to the head injury in January 2016 at Pune’s Command Hospital.
The court order stated that Ghanekar was convicted under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code, and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for seven years and pay a fine of Rs. 5 lakhs, out of which an amount of Rs. 3 lakhs would be paid to the parents of Parag. If Ghanekar fails to pay the fine, he will suffer simple imprisonment for one year.
The trial went on for six years, with the first witness’s evidence recorded on August 3, 2017, and the last witness’s deposition recorded on February 21, 2023.
The court also expressed its displeasure with the NCC for deliberately not securing the presence of inquiry officer P Saravanan for deposing in the court as a witness. The court mentioned that some persons from the NCC used to visit the court and keep watch on the proceedings, but the service of summons to witnesses, namely P Saravanan, was avoided for years together. Only after expressing displeasure and suggesting the prosecution take steps by approaching higher authorities, the witness appeared in court.
The helpless parents of the deceased Parag Ingale were forced to wait for almost ten years to get justice. The court stated that the mental sufferings of Parage Ingale’s parents are beyond imagination.
The incident caused a great deal of trauma to Parag’s family and the school community. Parag was a student of Loyola High School, Pashan Road, Pune, studying in the 8th standard when the incident occurred. The accused Amod Ghanekar was a NCC teacher in the said school. The firing practice session was organized for the students under the supervision of Ghanekar.
During the hearing, the Additional Public Prosecutor, Rajesh Kavediya, submitted that on the fateful day, the accused was not authorized to conduct the firing. For his thrill and passion, he fired the bullet, resulting in the death of Parag. The parents of Parag had suffered a lot, and they have been fighting for justice for more than seven years. Hence, the maximum punishment should be inflicted upon the accused.
The court order has brought some relief to Parag’s parents, who have been waiting for justice for nearly a decade. However, the incident highlights the importance of ensuring the safety of students during practice sessions and the need for authorities to take responsibility for such incidents.
Join Punekar News Whatsapp Group, Telegram, Instagram And Twitter For Regular Update about Pune City And Pimpri-Chinchwad
