A tragic hit-and-run accident in Udupi claimed the life of a local motorcyclist early this November. Prajwal Shetty, the young son of a prominent local Congress leader, was arrested following a fatal collision that left a motorcycle rider dead.
The Indian Express reported that on the morning of November 13, Mohammed Hussain, a 39-year-old motorcycle rider, was en route to his workplace.
Around 5 a.m., his journey took a fatal turn on the Punchalakadu-Belapu road in Udupi, Karnataka.
Hussain was severely injured in the accident. Local passersby found him and rushed him to a nearby hospital.
Despite their efforts and subsequent treatment at KMC Manipal, Hussain succumbed to his injuries the following day.
The vehicle involved, a Thar, was allegedly speeding and struck Hussain's motorcycle. It was later found to have been driven by Prajwal Shetty, who left the scene immediately after the crash.
Following the incident, the local police launched an investigation. Utilizing CCTV footage from the vicinity, they identified the Thar as belonging to Shetty.
"The accused fled the spot assuming that nobody had witnessed the accident, but the vehicle was traced on the basis of CCTV footage and the suspect was identified the next day after the accident," a police officer explained.
As news of the arrest spread, the community reeled from the impact of the incident. Hussain’s father, Umarabba, filed a police complaint stating, "After knocking down my son and injuring him, the driver of the vehicle did not stop to check on him or inform a nearby police station about the incident but drove away, leading to his death."
The police have since seized the Thar and have taken Shetty into custody. Initially charged with causing grievous injuries, the case was upgraded to account for Hussain’s death.
Prajwal Shetty's father, Deviprasad Shetty, is the president of the Belapu grama panchayat and a known Congress leader. The incident has put additional scrutiny on the local leadership.
While the legal proceedings are underway, the community continues to mourn the loss of Hussain and seeks justice for the reckless act that cut his life short.
This tragic event has sparked conversations about road safety and the responsibilities of vehicle owners and drivers in the area.
There is a call for stricter enforcement of traffic laws and better road safety awareness campaigns to prevent such incidents in the future.
The case continues to develop as more details come to light and the community awaits the outcome of the judicial proceedings against Prajwal Shetty.
