A man allegedly smuggling liquor and banned gutkha from Bengaluru was arrested after he hit a head constable with his car and drove nearly four kilometres with the policeman clinging to the bonnet. The incident took place on Sunday evening at the Jujuwadi checkpost near Hosur on the Tamil Nadu–Karnataka border when a team from Hudco police station was checking vehicles. Police said the accused has been identified as Yarap Bhasha, 34, from Kalekunda in Karnataka.
Cop Carried on Bonnet for 4 km
According to Hudco police inspector Syed Mubarak, the car did not stop even after officers signalled the driver to pull over. The vehicle hit head constable Rajiv Gandhi during the check. The officer managed to hold onto the bonnet as the car sped away.
“Bhasha did not stop the car when police indicated to him to stop it. The car hit constable Rajiv Gandhi. The head constable clung onto the bonnet of the car. Bhasha drove the car on the Bengaluru-Chennai National Highway for four km with the head police on the bonnet,” the inspector said.
Police Chase Ends Near Hosur Dargah
A police team led by inspector Syed Mubarak chased the vehicle. With help from members of the public, the car was finally intercepted near the Hosur Dargah area. Police said the accused again tried to hit officers while attempting to escape in the area.
However, the car hit a parapet on the road. During the impact, head constable Rajiv Gandhi, who was still holding onto the bonnet, suffered a fracture in his leg.
Gutkha and Liquor Seized
During the search of the car, police found a large quantity of banned gutkha products and liquor. “We found 390 kg of banned gutkha items worth Rs 2.20 lakh and 48 packets of Karnataka liquor (Tetra packs) in the car. We seized the car, the gutkha and the liquor,” said the inspector.
Accused Arrested
Police registered a case against the accused. Bhasha was remanded to judicial custody and sent to Salem Central Prison. Meanwhile, injured head constable Rajiv Gandhi was admitted to the Government Hospital in Hosur for treatment.
Police said CCTV footage of the incident shows the head constable being carried on the bonnet of the car during the four-kilometre drive. Further investigation is underway.
