32 hit-and-run cases registered in Pimpri-Chinchwad in past four months

6 June 2024

Pune- Pimpri-Chinchwad area has seen 32 hit-and-run cases in the past four months. The cases where the driver absconds the scene after intentionally or otherwise hitting a vehicle are counted as hit and run. It is a serious offense as medical experts believe that if the victim is given medical assistance in time, their life can be saved. Such incidents appear to happen more at night as the vehicle number cannot be traced due to darkness. Even CCTV cameras are unable to capture clear images. The increased number of escapes after the accident led to around 122 people losing their lives. A driver’s first instinct after an accident is fleeing from the site as they fear they would be beaten or taken to the police. In most cases, witnesses focus on punishing the driver instead of taking care of the victim. This in turn results in traffic and congestion.

Instead of beating up the driver, one should prioritize ensuring the victim gets proper medical treatment. The emergency services should be called and the driver should be handed over to the police without violating the law. This will automatically lower the number of hit-and-run cases. The police invoke Section 304 (A) even when the victim is left on the road when Section 304 (2) needs to be applied. The difference between these clauses Is that the former implies that whoever caused the death was negligent and did not intend to kill. The driver is faced with a two-year imprisonment or charged a fine or both. However, fleeing the scene when the victim could have been saved is an act of recklessness and the driver likely knows that his decision will lead to death. Therefore, the latter should be applied instead.

The use of Section 304 (2) causes imprisonment of the accused for up to ten years or an exorbitant fine or both. Manak Ippar, the then Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 1, had invoked Section 304 (2) of the IPC in around 51 offenses. The number of accidents in Pimpri-Chinchwad is increasing daily. In the last four months, as many as 122 people have lost their lives in accidents.