Road rage incident on NYE claims 1 life in Shivamogga

Shivamogga: A tragic road rage incident on New Year's Eve resulted in one death, and left others critically injuried, when an SUV collided with a motorcycle in Shivamogga. The SUV driver was apprehended on Wednesday evening, following CCTV evidence. Though, the delayed police response caused public concern.The SUV struck a motorcycle resulting in the immediate death of 20-yr-old Dhanush. His companion Prajwal, 21, sustained severe injuries and was taken to a hospital. The suspect, Karthik, who was driving the SUV, was taken into custody. Witness accounts suggest that the collision was intentional, following a verbal dispute.The incident began when the motorcycle accidentally touched the vehicle's mirror, leading to a confrontation. The vehicle's occupants, including a retired police officer's son, pursued and allegedly struck the motorcycle. The deceased's relatives sought a comprehensive inquiry, lodging their complaint at Doddapete police station. Police's initial reluctance to register the case raised questions about possible interference due to the accused's connections.Muthu Kumar, a local leader from Gopala Gowda Layout, told TOI: "The two youngsters went out on their motorbike to buy a cake for the New Year, when their bike slightly touched the car's mirror. The occupants of the car got angry and chased the bike, ramming into it, in a cinematic style. The entire incident was captured on the CCTV."Shivamogga SP Mithun Kumar stated, "Based on Prajwal's statement, we have filed a murder case. Karthik was allegedly driving the vehicle and has been detained for further investigation." The SP mentioned that they are looking into the possibility of drunken driving by Karthik. However, initial findings indicate the vehicle's other occupants, two men and two women, were not under the influence.