Two Youths Killed in Boliyar Scooter-Pickup Crash; Murder Case Registered
Mangaluru: Konaje police have registered a murder case against pickup driver Hafeez alias Appi for allegedly deliberately ramming his vehicle into a scooter carrying two youths near the Indian Oil petrol pump in Boliyar on October 19.
The case was registered under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), based on a complaint filed by Ismail, a resident of Ukkuda House in Kinya village, Ullal taluk. The incident reportedly occurred between 4 pm and 4:15 pm.
According to the complaint, Ismail’s elder son, Mohammed Zunaid (23), worked as a labourer at Global Market near Kallapu. After returning home from work at 11 am, he had lunch and left on a scooter around 1:30 pm with his neighbour, Mohammed Afraz (23).
At around 5 pm, Ismail received a call from his colleague, K.M. Abbas, informing him that Zunaid had met with an accident near the petrol pump and had been admitted to Kanachur Hospital in Deralakatte. Doctors declared Zunaid dead at 6:55 pm after finding that he had sustained severe head injuries. Afraz, who was riding pillion, was taken to K.S. Hegde Hospital in Deralakatte but later succumbed to his injuries.
Ismail and Abbas subsequently visited the accident site, where they found the damaged scooter (KA19-HX-6964), a broken electric pole and a pickup vehicle (KA19B6747) with damage to its front bumper and mudguard.
During inquiries at Rantadka Cross, they reportedly learnt that Zunaid and Afraz had argued with Hafeez over an unspecified issue at around 4 pm. The argument allegedly escalated into a physical fight, after which the two youths left towards Mudipu on their scooter.
According to eyewitness accounts cited in the complaint, Hafeez followed them in his pickup vehicle and deliberately rammed the scooter from behind near the petrol pump, allegedly intending to kill them. The impact reportedly caused the scooter to crash into an electric pole, throwing both riders onto the road and leaving them with fatal injuries.
The accused allegedly abandoned the pickup at the roadside and fled.
Police have seized both vehicles and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the altercation and the alleged murder. Efforts are underway to trace Hafeez, who remains absconding.