Police have arrested a man in connection with a hit-and-run incident in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district in which a 60-year-old pedestrian was killed after allegedly being dragged for nearly 20 feet and then run over again by the vehicle, officials said on Wednesday.
The accused, identified as Vikrant Vij, a resident of New Delhi, has been taken into custody and the vehicle involved in the accident has been seized. The incident occurred on Monday on Naggar Farm Road in the Patlikuhl area of Manali subdivision. The victim, Ramkrishan, a local resident, died on the spot after being allegedly struck by a speeding car bearing a Delhi registration number. The driver fled the scene immediately after the accident.
Following information about the incident, a police team from Patlikuhl police station rushed to the spot and initiated an investigation. During the probe, eyewitness Omprakash, a resident of Chanalti village in Kullu district, recorded his statement before the police. According to his account, the vehicle hit Ramkrishan and dragged him for approximately 20 feet before running over him again. The impact caused severe injuries, leading to the victim's death on the spot.
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Preliminary findings suggest that the Ford car was being driven at high speed and in a negligent manner when it struck the pedestrian. Investigators said evidence collected from the scene indicated reckless driving on the part of the accused.
Based on the findings, police registered a case at Patlikuhl police station under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, along with Section 187 of the Motor Vehicles Act for failing to report the accident and not providing assistance to the injured person.
Police said the accused was subsequently traced and arrested. The vehicle involved in the accident has also been taken into custody as part of the investigation. After the completion of postmortem formalities, the victim's body was handed over to family members for the last rites.
Sub-Inspector Inder Singh, Additional In-charge of Patlikuhl police station, said the investigation is ongoing and all aspects of the case are being examined in detail. He added that further legal action will be taken based on the outcome of the probe.
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