BICHOLIM
Bicholim police have registered a case against two persons in connection with the death of a 20-year-old ITI electrical student, Akshat Naik, who died after suffering an electric shock while assisting in electrical installation work at a newly constructed house in Maulinguem.
According to the complaint lodged by the deceased's father, Rajesh Naik of Deulwada, Lamgao, Bicholim, the incident occurred on June 26 between 3 pm and 9.35 pm at a newly constructed first-floor residential house belonging to Sameer Maulingkar at Harijanwada, Maulinguem.
The complaint states that Akshat Naik, who was pursuing an ITI course in electrical and was keen to gain practical experience, was engaged by Kedar Mandrekar (33), a lineman/wireman with the electricity department and resident of Deulwada, Lamgao, to assist in the electrical installation work despite allegedly knowing that the student was not qualified to undertake such hazardous work.
During the testing of the newly installed wiring, electricity was supplied through a temporary extension from the ground-floor connection, although the first floor did not have an authorised electricity connection.
Akshat allegedly received a severe electric shock and collapsed. He was immediately shifted to the Community Health Centre (CHC), Bicholim, where doctors declared him dead.
Police said that an inquiry revealed that Kedar Mandrekar had undertaken the electrical installation work, engaged the deceased to assist him, and carried out testing of the electrical installation. The house owner, Sameer Maulingkar, allegedly permitted the work to proceed without ensuring adequate safety measures and despite knowing that the work was not being carried out by a qualified person.
Based on the findings, Bicholim Police concluded that the negligent acts and omissions of both accused resulted in the death of Akshat Rajesh Naik. Police have booked Kedar Mandrekar and Sameer Maulingkar under Section 106(1) read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, for causing death by negligence. The case is being investigated by PSI Viraj Dhauskar of Bicholim Police Station.
