Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Oct 20: In a shocking twist, the fatal crash near the Boliyar petrol pump on Monday, which claimed the lives of two youths, has turned out to be a case of premeditated murder.
Initially reported as a horrific road accident, police investigations and a formal complaint have now revealed that a pickup truck driver intentionally rammed into the victims' two-wheeler following an altercation. The Konaje police have registered a murder case against the accused driver, identified as Hafeez alias Appi.
The deceased have been identified in the First Information Report (FIR) as Mohammed Zunaid (23) and his friend Mohammed Afraz (23).
According to the complaint filed by Zunaid's father, Ismail, a resident of Kinya, the two youths had left home on their scooter at 1:30 pm on Monday. At around 4:00 pm, they got into a heated argument and physical fight with Hafeez near the Ranthadka cross.
Following the clash, Zunaid and Afraz rode away towards Mudipu on their scooter (registration KA-19-HX-6964). Enraged by the incident, Hafeez allegedly chased them in his pickup truck (KA-19-B-6747) with the clear intent to kill. He deliberately crashed his vehicle into the scooter near the Indian Oil petrol pump in Boliyar. The impact threw the youths to the road and snapped a nearby electric pole. Hafeez subsequently abandoned his damaged pickup truck at the scene and fled.
Zunaid was rushed to Kanachur Hospital, where doctors declared him dead at 6:55 pm, while Afraz succumbed to his critical injuries at KS Hegde Hospital.
Based on the father's complaint, the Konaje police have registered an FIR (Crime No 112/2026) under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).