AFTER AKHILESH RALLY, SUV IN SP CONVOY MOWS DOWN BIKER

BAREILLY: A 52-year-old lawyer, Rakesh Kumar, who was entering a petrol pump on his bike, was run over by a speeding SUV allegedly part of a convoy of vehicles belonging to Samajwadi Party (SP) members returning from a poll rally attended by party chief Akhilesh Yadav in Budaun on Saturday evening. Kumar was shifted to a local hospital where he died.

The SUV was registered in the name of SP district president Ashish Yadav, police said on Sunday, adding that "a probe is on to find out who was at the wheel of the vehicle."

Incidentally, CCTV footage purportedly showed Kumar slowly taking a right turn towards the pump when the SUV hit him. In the footage, the victim could be seen tossed up in the air for a few seconds before falling on the road. The SUV was then hit by another SUV which couldn't apply emergency brakes. Thereafter, both SUVs leave the place.

Police registered an FIR under IPC sections 304-A (causing death by negligence) and 279 (rash driving) against the unidentified driver. A senior cop said as per records "the vehicle's insurance had expired".

SSP (Budaun) Alok Priyadarshi told TOI: "The driver could have at least stopped and taken the victim to the nearest hospital. It is a case of hit and run. We seized the vehicle and its technical inspection will be conducted on Monday. The vehicle belongs to the SP district president."