KOLLAM: A lorry rammed into a posse of cops on duty killing one and gravely injuring two others at an accident site at Kulakkada in Kottarakkara early on Sunday morning. The policemen were part of a highway patrol team of Puthoor police station. Vipin Kumar, 34, of Vayakkal in Kottarakkara, the police driver with Kollam AR camp, was dead. Venugopal Das, 54, the grade SI, Puthoor station and S.I. Asokan, 51, of Ezhukone station were admitted to a hospital with serious injuries.
The incident took place around 5.30 am while the patrolling team was trying to rescue the passengers of a car, all mimicry artistes, who met with an accident at Kulakkada. The team was near the Enathu area when it received a message that a car had rammed into a post near Kulakkada, and rushed to their rescue. The passengers who survived with minor injuries were sent to a hospital by the patrolling team after which a national permit lorry from Adoor side rammed into the team.
The residents rushed the injured cops to a nearby hospital where Vipin Kumar was declared brought dead. The body after autopsy at the Thiruvananthapuram MCH was kept at Kollam AR camp and Kottara-kkara DySP office for all to pay last respects. Cremation will be held at his house in Vayakkal on Monday with full police honours. The police that took the truck driver Suresh of Malambuzha in Palakkad into custody said the vehicle lost control after he fell asleep. Mr Kumar leaves his wife, Anju, and three-year-old son, Karthik. DGP Loknath Behera condoled the death of Vipin and promised all help to the injured cops.
