A police chase ended in tragedy on Saturday night in the Kotwali area of Saharanpur district, Uttar Pradesh, when fleeing criminals ran over a pedestrian while trying to escape. The deceased has been identified as Sheetal (42), a resident of Mayahedi village in Saharanpur, according to police sources.
Police said a group of criminals from Uttarakhand was attempting to flee in a vehicle when the police started to chase them. During the pursuit, the suspects crossed the Uttarakhand–Uttar Pradesh border, with the police vehicle continuing the chase into Uttar Pradesh. The reason for the chase, however, could not be immediately ascertained.
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To intercept the suspects, police had set up a barricade on the road. On spotting the barricade, the criminals attempted to escape. In a sudden move, they allegedly put their vehicle into reverse gear and sped backwards at high speed. During this manoeuvre, the vehicle struck Sheetal, who was riding a motorcycle behind them, throwing him off due to the impact.
Police personnel rushed the injured man to a hospital in critical condition. Police officer Sube Singh confirmed that Sheetal later succumbed to his injuries during treatment. The accused, however, managed to flee the scene.
Police have launched a search operation to trace the criminals. CCTV footage from nearby areas is being examined as part of the investigation, officials said.
