A truck driver accused of mowing down a Home Guard jawan after crashing through a police checkpoint near WorldMark Mall in Gurugram has been arrested nearly two weeks after the incident, police said on Monday.
The accused, identified as Mantu Kumar Yadav, 34, was arrested on Sunday and later remanded to judicial custody by a local court. He is accused of causing the death of Home Guard jawan Sandeep through rash and negligent driving on the night of June 2.
According to police, the incident occurred at a checkpoint set up by personnel from Sector 65 police station outside WorldMark Mall. A cement mortar mixer truck allegedly approached the barricades at high speed and crashed into the checkpoint, striking the Home Guard jawan who was on duty.
The impact left Sandeep critically injured. He was rushed to hospital but succumbed to his injuries during treatment. The truck also smashed through police barricades and damaged a parked SUV before coming to a halt.
A police team rushed to the scene after receiving information and secured the area. Crime Scene and Fingerprint teams were called in to collect evidence, while the truck involved in the crash was seized.
Based on a complaint filed by Sub-Inspector Devender Kumar, who was present at the checkpoint, a case was registered at Sector 65 police station under relevant provisions of law.
Police said the Crime Branch unit in Sohna launched a search operation to trace the accused driver. On June 13, when officers attempted to apprehend him in the Sohna area, he allegedly tried to flee after spotting police. During the pursuit, he sustained an injury to his leg and was admitted to Government Hospital, Sector 10.
Following medical treatment, Yadav was formally arrested from the hospital on June 15. Originally from Muzaffarpur district in Bihar, he had been residing on Rithoj Road in Bhondsi and had been driving a cement mortar mixer truck for nearly three years.
During questioning, the accused allegedly admitted he was driving the vehicle in a rash and negligent manner when he struck the police barricades, the Home Guard jawan and the parked car.
Police said further investigation into the case is under way.
