Panchkula police are facing significant challenges in their investigation into the hit-and-run accident that claimed the life of retired Lieutenant General K S Mann, as the offending vehicle remains untraced three days after the incident.
Absence of CCTV Footage Hampering Investigation
The crucial setback in the case is the reported absence of closed-circuit television camera coverage at the exact location where the 83-year-old former Army officer was struck. The fatal accident occurred on Friday evening, and the retired Lt Gen later succumbed to his injuries at the Command Hospital in Chandimandir on Saturday.
Police officials confirmed that the lack of direct visual evidence from the site has complicated the probe. In response, teams are meticulously reviewing footage from cameras installed in the surrounding areas. Sub-Inspector Sukhwinder Singh, the officiating Station House Officer of the Mansa Devi Complex police station, stated that they are scanning this peripheral footage to track the suspected vehicle's movements.
Family Formalities and Police Appeal
The postmortem examination of the retired officer has not yet been conducted. Authorities are awaiting the arrival of one of Lt Gen Mann's sons, who is currently in the United States. The procedure will be carried out once the family completes the necessary formalities.
Lt Gen Mann is survived by his wife and two sons. One son is a serving Colonel in the Indian Army, while the other is an officer with the Canadian Police. The deceased was also the brother of the late Brigadier Sukhi Mann, a celebrated officer of the Parachute Regiment.
With the investigation stalling, the Panchkula police have made a public appeal for assistance. They are urging anyone with information related to the accident to come forward. This includes:
- Eyewitness accounts of the Friday evening incident.
- Any dashcam footage from vehicles that were in the area at the time.
- Any other information that could help identify the vehicle and its driver.
The police hope that public input will provide the breakthrough needed to identify the vehicle and bring the responsible party to justice.
Ongoing Probe and Next Steps
Despite sustained efforts, the Panchkula police have so far been unable to trace either the driver or the vehicle involved in this tragic incident. The case underscores the critical role of surveillance infrastructure in solving such crimes. The investigation remains active, with officers pursuing all available leads to solve the hit-and-run case that took the life of a distinguished former military officer.
