KRISHNAGIRI: Tensioned prevailed on the Chennai-Bengaluru national highway on Sunday after an angry mod torched one of the two accident vehicles that had killed four people. They also burnt tyres on the road and resorted to a road roko in protest against the mishap deaths.
On Sunday, a car heading towards Bengaluru from Chennai first rammed against three minor boys who were transporting rice bags on a bicycle when the victims crossed the road at Kanthikuppam on Chennai-Bengaluru national highway in Krishnagiri district.
The car then ploughed through a marriage party waiting at the Kanthikuppam bus stop before it stopped after hitting few others and some two-wheelers at the spot.
Four people including two boys were killed on the spot and six others were badly hurt. The injured people were sent to the Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri government hospitals.
The deceased were identified as 40-year-old Dharman of Maruthepalli, 45-year-old Vanaja of Mallavadi, 17-year-old Gokul and 18-year-old Bharath Kumar, both natives of Kanthikuppam village.
Soon after the incident, the local villagers, incensed over the accident deaths went on a rioting spree. A group of people attacked the accident vehicles before one of the two cars was moved to the roadside and burnt with the petrol drawn from its fuel tank.
They also pelted stones on other waiting vehicles in the vicinity. The fire tender that came to the spot was also damaged in the stone throwing incident.
The Kanthikuppam police, sensing the situation was getting worse had brought additional strength from other police stations. They resorted to a mild lathi-charge to disperse the mob that refused to relent despite talks held with them by police officials to meet their demand for an over-bridge at that place.
Investigations revealed that 40-year-old Muniraj of Purasaiwalkam of Chennai came in a Hyundai i10 car and 21-year-old Aswin of Bengaluru was driving the other car, a Ford ikon and both were heading towards Bengaluru. At around 11.20 am, the vehicles, while near Kanthikuppam, moved parallel at very high speed and skimmed past each other. The bonnet of Muniraj’s car opened under its impact and covered the windshield blocking the driver's view of what lay ahead on the road, police said, adding, this led to the tragic mishap killing four people.
The State minister for Youth and Sports development, P.Balakrishna Reddy, district collector C.Kathiravan, SP, D.Mahesh Kumar met the grieving kin of the victims in Krishnagiri government hospital and consoled them.
