KANPUR: After stealing a parked tractor-trolley ion Kanpur-Auraiya highway Akbarpur area of Kanpur Dehat, an allegedly mentally challenged man drove the vehicle for nearly 20 kilometres before he was nabbed by the police on Friday afternoon.
At the time, a PRV was stationed near the site. As senior personnel flashed wireless messages to the district police, the PRV personnel saw a man speeding a tractor-trolley towards Auraiya on the wrong side of the road, taking the oncoming vehicles and people head-on.
The PRV team swung into action and started chasing the tractor- trolley. The team tried to intercept the vehicle at several junctions, but in vain, as the man was driving at a very high speed. Following a 20-kilometre-long chase, the cops were finally able to apprehend the suspect.
According to Akbarpur Kotwali inspector Tulsiram Pandey, preliminary findings suggested that the man who stole the tractor-trolley is mentally challenged. He was able to flee with the vehicle when its owner went to attend nature’s call, leaving the keys in the ignition. Fortunately, no eventuality occurred.
“We are interrogating him to understand his mental state that led to the bizarre act. We are also trying to find out his address, and further investigation is underway in this regard,” added the inspector.
Eyewitnesses, meanwhile, said several people at different points across the 20 km-stretch saved themselves from being hit by the tractor-trolley driven by the allegedly mentally challenged man.