Chandigarh: Thar claims newspaper delivery man’s life in early morning mishap

50-year-old was on his way to pick up the daily newspaper supply when a Mahindra Thar hit his scooter and dragged him for nearly 500 metres near the Sector 17/18 traffic lights in Chandigarh

A 50-year-old newspaper delivery man was killed after a Mahindra Thar rammed into his scooter at the Sector 17/18 traffic lights on early Thursday morning.

In an attempt to escape, the Thar driver sped up, dragging the victim and his scooter along for nearly 500 metres before the vehicle’s front wheel broke, forcing it to stop, said Chandigarh Police. (Keshav Singh/HT)

The victim was identified as Balbir Singh Rana, who hailed from Uttarakhand and lived with his family in Kishangarh village, Chandigarh.

On Thursday, he left home after 4.30 am to pick up the newspaper supply from the Sector-22 market before proceeding for the daily door-step deliveries.

Police said while he was approaching the Sector 17/18 light point, a speeding Mahindra Thar, bearing a Chandigarh registration number, hit his Honda Activa from behind.

Balbir Singh Rana, the victim. (HT Photo)

In an attempt to escape, the car driver sped up, dragging Balbir and his scooter along for nearly 500 metres before the vehicle’s front wheel broke, forcing it to stop.

The mangled remains of the victim’s scooter. (Keshav Singh/HT)

Investigators said the vehicle was registered in the name of a Sector-33 resident.

The car has been impounded and the driver has been booked under Sections 279 (rash driving), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 304-A (causing death by negligence) at the Sector 17 police station.

The deceased’s body has been kept in the mortuary of GMSH and will be handed over to the family after post-mortem examination.

He is survived by his wife and three children, including a son and two daughters.