Shillong, Sep 18: Two men were arrested on Friday after they allegedly ran over Additional Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Lovish Garg, at a traffic naka set up at Urkaliar in the early hours of Friday morning.
The two were remanded to 14 days’ judicial custody after being hauled before a court today evening.
Garg’s condition was described as critical earlier in the day but, during a later briefing, SP (Traffic) Hari Prasanth said that his condition is currently stable. Garg sustained multiple injuries in the incident, including two lacerations to his head and wounds to the hip region. He had been rushed to Woodland Hospital after the incident.
Police have been ordered to increase the number of night patrols they undertake after a spate of arson incidents in the city. It is not understood whether this particular naka was set up as part of that direction or for other reasons.
According to Prasanth, the incident occurred at 1:30am when traffic personnel were conducting a special naka. The two individuals arrived together on a two-wheeler and allegedly attempted to flee when Garg tried to stop them.
The vehicle was subsequently intercepted and the two individuals were arrested. The scooty was also seized as part of the investigation.
Police have registered a case involving charges including attempt to murder, disobedience of order by a civil servant and causing grievous injuries to a civil servant with the investigation continuing into the circumstances surrounding the incident and the reasons the two individuals allegedly attempted to evade the naka.
Prasanth said the arrested individuals were subjected to medical examination, which indicated that they were intoxicated.
This could well have been the reason for their attempt to escape. However, earlier in the day speculation that the scooty was being ridden by Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) members and that they had intentionally rammed Garg was reported.
According to SP (City) Dangsan Khyriem, the act was “deliberate and appears intended to cause grievous injury and escape checking.”
Prasanth later said the investigation would proceed on the basis of material evidence and statements collected by the police, adding that interrogation of the accused is still underway.
The SP (Traffic) said the traffic department has trained personnel to conduct naka operations and deal with situations where motorists attempt to escape. He said appropriate procedures are followed when vehicles try to evade traffic personnel.
Family members of the two accused have claimed that the duo were falsely accused. However, they declined to go on the record when asked by reporters.
