Pathak, posted at Kotwali police station, was directing a Pakshiraj Travels bus when a Dadu & Sons vehicle (MP18 P 0455) arriving from Byohari struck him head-on around 2 pm. The police department’s own CCTV cameras at the spot had been non-functional for months, but footage from an adjacent shop confirmed the sequence of events. The video shows the bus running over Pathak and moving forward without halting.
Originally from Sathni village in Sirmour tehsil of Rewa, Pathak had joined the police force in 2013. He is survived by his wife and two children, aged 25 and 20. His elder son fainted upon seeing his father’s body. Relatives had voiced suspicion of intentional killing on the day of the incident.
Police have registered a case of culpable homicide against bus driver Kapil Singh, who has been arrested. Investigators, led by CSP Raghavendra Dwivedi and Traffic In-charge Sanjay Jaiswal, have recreated the accident using the Pakshiraj bus to determine whether the collision was accidental or deliberate.
The incident has reignited long-standing complaints against Dadu & Sons, whose buses have allegedly operated with impunity across Shahdol and Byohari. Local residents and transport workers accuse the company of illegal road occupation and frequent traffic violations.
A day before the incident, a bus owned by the brother of the operator was seized for permit violations, adding to the speculation surrounding motives. BJP MP Himadri Singh has written to the Chief Minister seeking martyr status for Pathak, financial aid for his family and compassionate appointment.
Public anger continues to mount, with citizens demanding strict action against bus operators, restoration of non-functional CCTV cameras and an overhaul of safety management at the bus stand.
