Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Dec 23: In an accident reported from Padekallu near Muguli in Karopady village in the taluk on Sunday December 22, a motorbike rider was killed and pillion rider suffered serious injuries, after a tipper hit a Royal Enfield Bullet motor bike.

The victim was Syed Anwar (24), son of Abdulla from Muguli, Karopady. Nawab (20), son of Abubakker from Bekoor, Kerala, suffered serious injuries. Nawab happens to be a relative of the deceased.

The engagement ceremony of Anwar's cousin had been arranged at Patrakody on Sunday. Anwar along with relative, Nawab, was moving towards the said village to take part in the function, when a tipper truck that was carrying M Sand to Kerala from the direction of Kanyaya hit the motor bike at a road bend at Padekallu. It is said that the tipper moved over the bike after knocking it down. Anwar lost his life on the spot while Nawab was admitted into a hospital at Deralakatte with grave injuries.

The tipper driver fled from the spot immediately after the accident, leaving his vehicle behind. Hundreds of people from Kerala came together at the spot after the incident, held protest against the failure of the police to avert such accidents, and the tipper driver for reckless driving, apart from stoning the tipper and deflating its tyres. They accused the police and other authorities of failing to check movement of hundreds of trucks carrying M Sand and sand everyday on Kanyana - Bayaru road on which movement of heavy vehicles is banned. They said the departments concerned have turned a blind eye towards the complaints made in this regard.

Bantwal police inspector Nagaraj T D and probationary sub-inspector of Vittal station, Vinod Kumar Reddy, tried to pacify the protesters. At one stage, verbal friction took place between the two sides. Central reserve police personnel were deployed. After Nagaraj promised to act against the vehicles violating rules, the protesters relented.

In the meanwhile, the police have taken into possession a motor bike that was found among the bushes nearby. No information about it could be gathered. Vittal police have registered a case.