Rajkot: Twelve people were injured after a car allegedly ploughed into a Ganpati immersion procession at Ghoghla village in the Union Territory of Diu on Friday night, police said.The driver, identified as 51-year-old Aebha Chavda, a resident of a village in Upleta taluka of Rajkot district, was arrested.According to police, the incident occurred around 9pm when the procession was moving from Ghoghla Zampa towards Ghoghla Jetty. Near Anmol Shop, the car allegedly approached from the opposite direction at high speed and in a rash and negligent manner, hitting several devotees, including women and children.The vehicle then rammed into a tractor carrying the Ganpati idol, bringing it to a halt. The car was damaged in the collision. Police said an angry crowd assaulted the driver before handing him over to the authorities.The injured were taken to the government hospital in Diu. Nine people suffered minor injuries, while three sustained grievous injuries and were referred to a hospital in Una. The three seriously injured were identified as Hensi Sachin (4), Chensi Solanki (4) and Jayshree Mahendra (60).Police said the road was narrow and crowded, making it difficult even for two-wheelers to pass when the car allegedly entered the procession.“The accused driver allegedly drove the vehicle intentionally in a rash and negligent manner at high speed and drove it into a large gathering of devotees, despite being aware that such an act was likely to cause loss of human lives and serious injuries to the persons present,” police said.Diu police registered an FIR under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Motor Vehicles Act. The car was seized.
