Ghaziabad Cyclist Fatally Struck by Truck in Early Morning Hit-and-Run
A tragic incident unfolded in Ghaziabad on Wednesday when a 32-year-old cyclist lost his life after being mowed down by a truck in the Teela Mod area. The victim, identified as Narendra Kumar, was employed as a gardener at the Hindon IAF air base station and was cycling to work at the time of the accident.
Details of the Fatal Accident
According to a police complaint filed by Kumar's cousin, Devendra, the incident occurred around 6 am. Narendra Kumar was cycling to work as usual when an unidentified vehicle struck his cycle from behind. The vehicle then ran him over before fleeing the spot, leaving Kumar critically injured. A passerby from their village in Muradnagar, who witnessed the incident, recognized Narendra and promptly informed the local community.
Within 15-20 minutes, Kumar's family members and a large number of villagers reached the spot. Police also arrived after receiving information about the accident. However, the situation quickly escalated as locals alleged that the police hastily sealed Kumar's body without making any attempts to track down the vehicle responsible for the hit-and-run.
Family and Villagers Stage Protest Demanding Justice
Angered by the perceived inaction, Kumar's family and the locals refused to allow the police to move the body. They staged a protest at the spot for approximately four hours, blocking traffic movement in the area. The protestors demanded immediate action against the accused driver and financial assistance for the victim's family to cope with the loss.
The protest caused significant disruption, with long queues of vehicles forming and commuters facing severe traffic snarls. Police responded by switching the road to one-way traffic movement and slowly clearing the jam, but normalcy was only restored after the protest concluded.
Police Response and Investigation
Around 10:30 am, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) reached the spot to address the protestors. ACP (Shalimar Garden) Atul Kumar Singh assured the crowd that action would be taken against the accused. Following talks with the ACP, the protest was called off, and the body was moved for further procedures.
ACP Atul Kumar Singh stated, "We are checking the CCTV cameras of the nearby areas to identify the vehicle and driver. The process of registering an FIR is underway. The body was sent for an autopsy, and reports are awaited." He added that a dedicated team has been formed to nab the accused in the case, emphasizing the police's commitment to solving the hit-and-run.
Aftermath and Traffic Normalization
After the protest was called off, police cleared the area, and traffic movement gradually returned to normal. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about road safety and police responsiveness in the region, sparking calls for stricter enforcement and support for victims' families in such tragic events.
