Ludhiana: A speeding Audi plowed through a morning crowd at a Ludhiana market, killing a food-cart vendor and critically injuring at least three people.Locals claimed the car driver was drunk or under the influence of drugs. He and another occupant of the car tried to speed away from the scene, but were blocked by locals. Before police could reach, however, the accused’s’ friends drove up in a hatchback and took them away.The deceased was identified as 38-year-old Prem Shah, who sold kulche-chane to support a family of six — his wife and five children, the eldest of who is 13. The injured are Rajesh Kumar, Harpal Singh and Jashanpreet Singh. All the victims are residents of Bhamian locality.Inspector Balwinder Kaur, SHO at Jamalpur police station, said, “The food vendor died on the spot, while a man on a bike and two men on a scooter were injured. They have been admitted to hospital. The Audi car has a Chandigarh registration plate. Police contacted the Chandigarh man, who said he had sold the car to a Samrala resident, Jastejveer Singh, about two years ago, though the ownership was yet to be transferred.”The hit-and-run was captured in grisly detail on several CCTV cameras and mobile phones of passersby. The clips show a white Audi ramming into Shah, smashing his cart to smithereens, and then going on to a scooter, which collided with a motorcycle. Instead of stopping after the first impact, the car sped ahead, dragging one of the victims for a few metres down the single-lane road.A shopkeeper said that the Audi driver and his aide tried to escape, but locals intercepted them. People at the market captured a video of the man at the wheel.“The man seemed drunk or high. He was not in his senses and was unable to say anything. We took his video and informed police. However, police took about an hour to reach the spot. Meanwhile, the accused called their acquaintances, and they all left.”Police are trying to identify the driver. “The picture of Jastejveer Singh does not match the man who was driving the car. It is a matter of investigation if Jastejveer also sold the car or gave it to one of his acquaintances to drive. Police will soon trace the accused. Statements of the kin of the deceased are being recorded to lodge an FIR,” added inspector Balwinder Kaur.The SHO said that the car was speeding, which seems to have led to the accident.MSID:: 122142748 413 |
