20-yr-old caught under car wheels, dragged for a km, dies; driver arrested
Mohali: Three days after a 20-year-old student lost his life after he was caught under the wheels of a car and dragged for nearly a kilometre, the driver of the vehicle was arrested on Tuesday, police said.
"We have arrested 38-year-old Punit who was driving the car that hit the bike on September 23 and dragged its rider. The car bore a Chandigarh registration number," said Station House Officer, Balongi, Manjit Singh.
Thirty eight years old Punit, a resident of Gillco valley in Kharar, has been held on charges of rash driving and causing death by negligence.
The victim, Gurjot Singh, studied hotel management at a private university in Landran near Mohali.
Gurjot was hit from behind by the car near Chappar Chiri at Landran road, when he and his two friends were returning from their college on a motorcycle.
He was declared brought dead by doctors at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER).
"Punit during questioning admitted hitting the bike but said he had no idea that Gurjot got stuck under the car," said the SHO.
Punit thought that the car's bumper had got damaged after hitting the bike and was making noise, he added. The accused told the police that he got scared after hitting the bike which is why he accelerated, the official said.
Gurjot's friend Kaushal who was accompanying him identified the car. Talking to reporters here, Kaushal said the car driver continued to drive the vehicle despite commuters asking him to stop.
Police said Punit has been booked under section 304A (causing death by negligence) and 279 (rash driving) of the IPC.
The arrest became possible as the car's registration number was captured in a video filmed by a person who was travelling on the same road.
The video showed Gurjot stuck in the wheels and being dragged for about a kilometre. Gurjot's friends escaped unhurt as they fell by the side.
A resident of Amroha district in Uttar Pradesh, Gurjot was living here as paying guest.
