In a grim display of apathy, a 27-year-old accident victim’s body lay on the road for over four hours as police from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh argued over jurisdiction. The tragic incident unfolded on the border between the two states, leaving grieving family members and angry locals demanding accountability.
Rahul Ahirwar, a resident of Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh, was en route to Delhi to seek work as a laborer when tragedy struck. Around 7 PM, while crossing the road, he was hit by an unidentified vehicle. Residents rushed to the spot and informed Harpalpur police in Madhya Pradesh. The officers arrived but refused to take action, claiming the site fell under Mahobkanth police station in Uttar Pradesh’s Mahoba district.
“When we called Harpalpur police, they came and said it was not their responsibility. They left, saying the area was under Uttar Pradesh police,” said Ramdeen, a relative of the victim. “When we called Mahobkanth police, they also refused to help, saying it was Madhya Pradesh’s jurisdiction. Meanwhile, my cousin’s body lay on the road, and we were left crying and helpless.”
Frustrated by the lack of action, villagers blocked the road in protest, leaving the body at the accident site. Visuals showed Ahirwar’s grieving family members sitting by his body, weeping inconsolably. “Rahul had married just three months ago and was heading to Delhi for work. This is not just negligence; it is inhuman,” said Ramdeen.
As the hours passed and neither police department acted, the situation escalated. “We want the autopsy done quickly so we can perform the last rites. This delay has only added to our pain,” another family member said.
Finally, at 11 PM, four hours after the accident, Madhya Pradesh police returned, removed the body, and sent it for post-mortem. Traffic movement was restored only after the villagers cleared the blockade.
This incident highlights the chaos and lack of coordination between state police forces, particularly in border areas. “What happened here is shameful. A young man’s body was left unattended, and his family was made to suffer because two states couldn’t decide who should act,” said a local resident.
The victim’s family has called for the driver responsible for the hit-and-run to be identified and punished. Meanwhile, the incident has sparked outrage on social media, with calls for reforms in handling inter-state jurisdiction disputes.
