B’luru hit-and-run victims bemoan police inaction

The traffic police said they have procured details of the car and its owner. They are now trying to ascertain the identity of the driver

Hameed Ashraf | NT

Bengaluru: Another hit-and-run accident has been re por ted here, which left at least two women severely injured.

The police have procured CCTV footage of the accident and are in the process of identifying and apprehending the offending car driver. Following preliminary investigation, the KR Puram Traffic police said that the incident had taken place near TC Palya on February 11, but came to light only after a complaint was registered in the matter.

The horrifying visuals of the incident show a car colliding with several two-wheelers on the main road. At least two women, identified as Suma and Chetana, suffered serious injuries and are currently under treatment at a private hospital in KR Puram.

According to local residents, around 10 pm on Saturday, Suma was riding towards a nearby vending machine to fetch drinking water when the car struck her scooter. The video purportedly shows the speeding car crash into Suma's twowheeler and then knocking out a youth and another woman on the roadside before fleeing from the spot.

As per sources, the youth luckily escaped unhurt while the woman suffered severe injuries. The jurisdictional traffic police said that they have procured details of the car and its owner. They are now trying to ascertain the identity of the driver responsible for the mishap.

However, relatives of the injured women and the residents are blaming the police for the delay in investigating the case. They said that despite registering an FIR and collecting all necessary details of the vehicle involved in the incident, cops have not taken any action in this regard. Numbers paint scary picture Road accident statistics indicate how roads have become unsafe for everyone.

According to official statistics, over 30 per cent of all road accidents in the country are hit-andrun cases, but only 10 per cent of drivers in such cases are booked. Lack of concern for the other person’s safety, coupled with rash driving, are major contributing factors.

Rules for every driver

It is essential to understand the Motor Vehicles Act, which explains laws imposed on any individual involved in a hit-and-run accident.

1. Any person who drives rashly on a public road can be held guilty of an offence under Section 279. Imprisonment for 6 months, a fine of Rs 1,000 or both can be imposed on a driver for rash driving or injuring another person on the road. The offence committed under Section 279 is bailable and is cognisable by a district magistrate.

2. If a driver, who is not under the influence of alcohol, causes the death of a person in an accident, the crime is reported under Section 304A. The rider may face imprisonment for a year that may be extended up to 2 years with a fine of more than Rs 1,000 or both. 304A is a non-bailable offence, and an individual can be convicted to a lifetime of imprisonment.

3. In extreme cases, the police may also report a hitand-run case under 302, which is a section related to murder. A driver booked under Section 302, may face the death sentence or life imprisonment.

4. In case of minors involved in such cases, the Act imposes 3 years of jail to parents of the minor, along with a hefty fine.