7 of family among eight killed in Jhajjar mishap
Victims were on way to Delhi to rescue their kin allegedly taken hostage by cow vigilantes on suspicion of selling cattle for slaughtering
Seven men of a family were among eight people killed on Firday night after their sports utility vehicle (SUV) collided with a truck near Maraut village in Jhajjar district.
The deceased have been identified as Randheer, Ramu, Raju, Jagdish, Birbal, Bhagirath, Raju and Sukhender (driver). Barring Sukhinder, the other seven men belonged to a cattle-trading family of Banjara community from Charkhi Dadri’s Mehrana village. They were in the age group of 27 to 35 years.
Investigation officer (IO) sub-inspector Rajesh Kumar said the deceased were going to Delhi to rescue their relatives who were allegedly taken hostage by cow vigilantes on suspicion of selling cattle for slaughtering.
“Their relatives were taken hostage while transporting cattle over suspicion of carrying them for slaughtering. So they were going to get them rescued,” Kumar said.
He said the accident was so fierce that seven people died on the spot, while the eighth man succumbed to injuries on way to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) in Rohtak.
The residents of nearby villagers had to use cutters to take out the victims from the badly dameged SUV.
The police said the truck driver abandoned his vehicle and fled the spot. A case has been registered against him.