On a fateful Wednesday night, Dehradun witnessed a tragic hit-and-run incident involving a speeding Mercedes with a Chandigarh registration number. The vehicle, driven by 22-year-old Vansh Katyal, mowed down four laborers from Uttar Pradesh, leaving two others injured. The accident occurred on Mussoorie Road, sending shockwaves through the community.
The victims, identified as Mansharam (30) and Ranjit (35) from Ayodhya, Balkaran (40) from Barabanki, and Durgesh from Faizabad, were working as laborers in Dehradun. The incident happened around 8 PM when the Mercedes, which was on a joyride, lost control after hitting a scooter. The driver, Katyal, fled the scene, leaving behind a trail of destruction and chaos.
Katyal, who was driving his brother-in-law’s Mercedes, had taken the vehicle for a spin with his 11-year-old nephew. After the accident, he abandoned the car near a vacant plot in Sahastradhara and borrowed a scooter to drop off his nephew. The police were quick to respond, using CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to track down the suspect vehicle.
The investigation led the police to Katyal, who was arrested near the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT) in Dehradun. During questioning, Katyal revealed that he had lost control of the vehicle after two scooters suddenly appeared in front of him. The Mercedes, which had a damaged front side, was initially registered to Harbir Automobiles in Chandigarh before being sold to a Delhi dealer and eventually purchased by Jatin Prasad Verma, a Lucknow resident with business ties in Dehradun.
The Investigation and Arrest
The police’s swift action in tracking down the suspect was crucial in solving the case. They used advanced technology, including CCTV footage and ANPR cameras, to identify the damaged Mercedes among several similar vehicles in the area. The broken Mercedes logo on the vehicle was a key piece of evidence that helped investigators narrow down their search.
Katyal, originally from Moradabad, had moved to Dehradun after losing his job in Delhi. He was staying in a paying guest accommodation in Mohit Vihar. His brother-in-law, Jatin Prasad Verma, corroborated Katyal’s account of the events leading up to the accident.
Community Response and Previous Incidents
This tragic incident is not the first of its kind in Dehradun. Just five months ago, six youths were killed in a high-speed car crash, highlighting the need for stricter traffic enforcement and public awareness about road safety.
The community is in shock over the loss of lives, and there is a growing demand for more stringent measures to prevent such accidents. The incident has also raised questions about the role of joyriding and reckless driving in causing such tragedies.
As the city mourns the loss of four innocent lives, it is essential to reflect on the importance of responsible driving and the need for effective traffic management. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of reckless behavior on the roads.
What measures do you think should be taken to prevent such tragic hit-and-run incidents in the future? Share your thoughts with us.
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