Kundapur PSI Punished in Shettrakatte Accident Case; Constable Suspended
Kundapur: District Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar has taken decisive action following the serious accident at Shettrakatte, where a collision between a tipper truck and a government bus resulted in injuries to over 14 passengers. In response to the incident, which involved allegations of illegal soil loading and negligent transportation, PSI Nasir Hussain of the Kundapur Rural Police Station has been transferred to Ajekar Police Station on deputation for other duties, effective Tuesday night.
Furthermore, Constable Yadav, a beat police officer from the same station, has been suspended in connection with the case.
CPI Santosh Kaikini of the Kundapur Rural Circle, Shankaranarayana, has been assigned additional responsibility for the law and order wing of the Kundapur Rural Police Station. SP Hariram Shankar confirmed these developments to the media.
The accident occurred on Monday evening in Shettrakatte, Gulwadi village, when a Kerala-registered tipper truck (KL-27 A 7100) collided head-on with a government bus en route from Kundapur to Ajri. The high-speed impact resulted in significant injuries to numerous passengers. The incident sparked considerable public outcry on social media, with citizens expressing concerns regarding the driver’s alleged negligence, illegal soil transport activities, and the validity of the tipper truck’s documentation. Calls for the mandatory installation of speed governors on tipper trucks to prevent future tragedies have also emerged.
SP Hariram Shankar, who promptly visited the injured at the hospital following the incident, assured the media that the case would be treated with utmost seriousness.
Raghavendra, the tipper truck driver and primary accused in the case, is currently receiving medical treatment at a local hospital in Kundapur, where he remains under police surveillance. Sridhar of Balkoor, the soil transport contractor, was arrested on Tuesday and subsequently produced before the court, where he has been remanded to judicial custody. A case has also been registered against Suma, the owner of the tipper truck. Authorities are investigating the potential involvement of others, including the landowners from whose property the soil was allegedly extracted, and further legal action may be initiated.
The case has been registered under multiple sections of the law, including Sections 110 and 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Sections 4(1A) and 21(4) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act), and Sections 183, 146, 192, and 182 of the Indian Motor Vehicles Act (IMV Act), in addition to standard accident-related legal provisions.
The sudden transfer of PSI Nasir Hussain has generated considerable discussion among the public. Prior to this assignment, Hussain was known for his approachable and community-oriented policing in areas such as Amasabailu, Byndoor, Kundapur, Kollur, and Shankaranarayana, all within the Kundapur Police Sub-Division. His recent appointment as Sub-Inspector in charge of law and order at the Kandloor Rural Police Station was followed by reports of significant improvements in the station’s operational efficiency, earning him public commendation. The reasons behind his abrupt transfer remain a subject of public speculation.
