Crime branch nabs culprits of ‘hit and run’ case after three years

Kannur: Crime branch sleuths identified the auto-rickshaw that killed a policeman in a hit-and-run incident three years ago and arrested its driver and owner Tuesday night. An accident charged with a simple fine otherwise has thus turned into a case of murder.

The driver sped away after knocking down Roopesh, 34, son of Narikkamolli Karunakaran, a native of Payyannur, attached to the Hosdurg police station in Kasargod on June 3, 2012, while he was riding a bike on his way home.

Roopesh died at Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, after nine months of treatment, on July 17, 2013. Police identified the driver as Anoop Thalithatt, 28, a native of Chittadi, and the owner as Haridasan. Crime branch was about to shut the file when CI Abdul Karim, the 8th investigation officer in the case, exposed the culprits.