J&K cop crushes rickshaw-puller

A Jammu and Kashmir police constable, who was reportedly drunk, ran his Maruti Gypsy into a cycle-rickshaw and a call centre cab near Lalit Kala Akademi on Feroze Shah Road.

A Jammu and Kashmir police constable, who was reportedly drunk, ran his Maruti Gypsy into a cycle-rickshaw and a call centre cab near Lalit Kala Akademi on Feroze Shah Road on Wednesday night. The rickshaw-puller was killed on the spot while the cab driver was injured.

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The gypsy is part of the VIP cavalcade of Jammu and Kashmir politicians, including the Chief Minister, whenever they visit the city. The policeman is posted with the CID cell of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

The incident was reported around 11.30 p.m. Eyewitnesses told the police that the gypsy was overspeeding and rammed the rickshaw first, crushing it badly, jumped over to the other carriageway and hit a Tavera car coming from the opposite direction.

After the accident, the locals caught the accused driver but he managed to free himself and fled from the spot. He was later arrested.

"We arrested the driver, Mohammad Rafiq, later on Thursday. We sent him for medical examination and are awaiting the results to ascertain whether he was drunk at the time of the incident," said Shanker Dass, DCP (New Delhi).

The injured man, Prem Kumar, was discharged after first-aid at Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) hospital. He was on his way to ITO.

The police said the accused was on his way to Jammu and Kashmir House when the incident occurred.

A case of rash and negligent driving, hurt and death due to negligence has been registered at the Tilak Marg police station. The police did not find any liquor bottle from the gypsy.

"The cycle rickshaw was not supposed to be there as this area falls under the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). It might have strayed in," said a senior police officer. Police have informed senior officials of J&K Police.

Further investigations are on.