Mystery shrouds death of girl due to hammer strike on head

Punjab Police is investigating whether the hammer was thrown intentionally by a national level athlete, a Punjab Police Constable, or it accidently slipped from his hands during the practice session, killing the 23-year-old on the spot, writes bharat hiteshi

- Bharat Hiteshi

Almost a fortnight after the mysterious death of a 23-year-old girl who aspired to join the Punjab Police, the police is clueless about the motive. The girl died when a hammer fell on her head during a practice session at Multi Purpose Stadium, Ludhiana, on 15 October. The young girl, Esther of Peerubanda Mohalla, near Jalandhar bypass, had reportedly cleared the recent trials for the post of Sub-Inspector.

The girl, was standing in the parking lot of the ground opposite the stadium when the hammer hit her, Esther’s cousin Samuel said. A case has been registered against Constable Harjot Singh. Police sources said that the hammer reportedly slipped from his hands during the practice session in the stadium and hit the girl on the head. A case has been registered, but he is yet to be arrested. Esther’s friend Aman had turned on the scooter ignition and they were about to leave when a hammer weighing 7.26 kg hit Esther, killing her on the spot.

“My sister was elated after clearing the trials for SI,” Samuel said. Her father Raj Kumar, a daily-wager, had struggled to arrange for her training. Following the incident, officials of the Sports Department termed the incident as an accident.

Denying the allegation levelled by the family of the girl that national-level player Harjot, who is a constable with the Punjab Police, intentionally targeted Esther, officials of the Sports Department of India said it was an unfortunate and rarest of rare incidents.