A tragic incident on New Year's Eve claimed the life of a police officer and left another seriously injured in Jharkhand's Dumka district. An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) was killed on the spot, and a woman constable sustained grave injuries after being hit by a speeding SUV while they were performing their duty.
Duty Turns Fatal on Interstate Highway
The deceased officer has been identified as Hemant Bhagat (50), and the injured constable is Devki Prajapati (42). Both were posted at the Shikaripara police station. The accident occurred on the Dumka-Rampurhat Road near the Chaipani forest area late in the evening of December 31st.
According to police reports, the officers were at the scene clearing the wreckage of two stone-laden trucks that had collided earlier. Upon receiving an alert about the truck collision with injured drivers and attendants, ASI Bhagat had first rushed to the spot. He arranged for the transport of the four injured men to the Shikaripara Community Health Centre (CHC) using his official police vehicle.
Sequence of the Tragic Event
After ensuring the injured were hospitalized, Bhagat returned to the accident site with Constable Devki Prajapati. Their objective was to clear the road of the damaged trucks to restore normal traffic flow on the busy interstate highway.
Minutes later, a speeding SUV with a Bihar registration number lost control and rammed into the officers. The vehicle was heading from Dumka towards Rampurhat. The impact was severe, killing ASI Hemant Bhagat instantly. Constable Devki Prajapati was rushed to the Shikaripara CHC for initial treatment before being referred to the Phulo Jhano Medical College and Hospital (PJMCH) for further care due to her serious injuries.
Investigation and Aftermath
The driver of the SUV managed to flee the scene immediately after the accident. The vehicle has been seized by the police. Officer-in-charge of Shikaripara police station, Amit Lakra, provided details on Thursday, stating that the passengers in the SUV were on their way to Rampurhat to offer prayers at the famous Tarapith temple.
"Attempts are on to nab the driver as the vehicle has been seized," confirmed Lakra. The autopsy of ASI Hemant Bhagat was conducted at PJMCH on Thursday. In a solemn tribute, SP Pitambar Singh Kherwar and other officers gave Bhagat's mortal remains a guard of honour at the Dumka police line.
Hemant Bhagat was a native of Lohardaga, while Devki Prajapati hails from Gumla. The incident has cast a pall of gloom over the police department and the local community, highlighting the dangers faced by law enforcement personnel while performing routine traffic management duties on hazardous roads.
