HYDERABAD: A daring act by Banjara Hills sub-inspector S Karunakar Reddy saved the lives of 16 ABVP activists and fellow cops.
On Tuesday morning, west zone police picked up several ABVP activists who were staging a protest at Pragati Bhavan against the leak of TSPSC question papers. Sixteen protesters were being transported to Saifabad police station via Khairatabad flyover in a police van.
Shortly after the van crossed the flyover, home guard Ramesh, 58, who was driving the van, suffered an epileptic fit and temporarily fell unconscious. “The van hit the median and was moving in a zig zag manner. Three constables and I were in the back of the van with the protesters. I sensed something was wrong with the driver and jumped out of the moving vehicle,” Karunakar Reddy, who worked in the Navy for 20 years before joining police force, told TOI.
Karunakar Reddy ran along with the van, opened the driver’s door and pressed the brake with his hand while turning the steering to left. “The van slowly swerved to the left, rammed into a flower pot on the side of the road and stopped. We shifted Ramesh to a hospital. He is out of danger. The protestors are all safe,” the SI said.
Karunakar Reddy and a constable suffered minor injuries.
Meanwhile, Panjagutta inspector C Harishchandra Reddy also carried an ABVP activist who collapsed during the protest to a hospital in an auto for treatment.
Later, the ABVP activists were booked under various sections of IPC.
Daily heroes celebrates individuals working hard to improve lives. Know a person
who fits the bill?