Drunk man steals police vehicle, crashes into shop in Baghpat

Meerut: Seeing an unattended police response vehicle (PRV) parked on the roadside and its key in the ignition switch, a drunk man got into the driver's seat, cranked the engine and sped away. The traffic police immediately gave chase, but the man stepped on the gas and continued drive for nearly two kilometres on the Baghpat–Meerut highway before he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a roadside shopThe incident happened around 9.30 pm on Tuesday near Baghpat city's Rashtriya Vandana Chowk, where the traffic police were conducting routine checking in the busy market area. The PRV was assigned to traffic inspector Satendra Singh, and it was parked about 100 m away.The accused suffered injuries to his face and head and became unconscious after the crash. Police admitted him to district hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. The PRV was badly damaged. Luckily, no pedestrians or shopkeepers were injured.SP Suraj Rai told TOI that accused Mohd Talib, in his early 20s, is a local resident. "Preliminary investigation suggests that the man consumed alcohol at a nearby shop and noticed the unattended police vehicle while returning home. The man is stable. An FIR under BNS sections 303 (2) (theft), 317 (2) (stolen property), 324 (4) (mischief), 132 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty) has been registered against the accused. An investigation is underway, and action will also be taken against the negligent policemen," said Rai.The incident happened a day ahead of UP deputy CM Brajesh Pathak's visit to Baghpat on Wednesday to review development projects, due to which security arrangements were already tightened in the district.