Tractor ferrying sand illegally mows down cop in Karnataka

KALABURAGI: A head constable was allegedly mowed down by a tractor transporting sand illegally near a police check post in Jevargi taluk of Karnataka’s Kalaburagi district on Thursday night. The tractor driver was arrested on Friday.
Deceased Mayur Bheemu Chauhan (51) and constable Pramod Doddamani were on night duty at the Hullur check post when they saw the sand-laden tractor coming, and signalled it to stop. As the tractor sped on, the two cops gave it a chase on their bike.
Driver Siddappa knocked down the duo and then ran the tractor over Chauhan’s head, killing him on the spot. Doddamani, who survived with injuries, has been hospitalised.
Siddappa fled the spot, but was arrested from Narayanpur village on Friday morning. The tractor owner had gone into hiding, said police.
Kalaburagi SP Isha Panth said others involved in the heinous crime would also be arrested soon. The check post near Hullur village was erected to curb illegal sand-mining.District minister Priyank Kharge said in Bengaluru that he had spoken to the district SP and the deputy commissioner and directed them to give compensation to the family of the deceased constable.