Grocery trader dies after being hit by fleeing car in Supaul

Patna: A 62-year-old grocery trader died after being hit by a fleeing car, allegedly carrying Nepali liquor, during a police chase in Supaul district on Thursday morning. The incident occurred on NH-106 near Nai Bazaar in Ratanpura police station area.

The deceased, Manoj Kumar, had just dropped his granddaughter at school and was on his way to open his shop at Ratanpura Chowk when he was struck by the speeding vehicle.

According to police, the Ratanpura SHO was on routine patrol around 6am when a suspicious car fled upon spotting the police near Ratanpura Chowk. During the chase, the vehicle first collided with a tractor and then hit Manoj, who was walking along the roadside.

Locals rushed him to the referral hospital in Ragopur, where doctors initiated treatment. However, he died while being taken to a higher medical centre.

Ratanpura SHO Pintu Kumar said the two occupants abandoned the car and tried to escape into a nearby maize field but were apprehended. They were identified as Abhishek Kumar and Vipin Kumar. “Police seized around 1,050 bottles (approximately 315 litres) of Nepali country-made liquor from the vehicle, meant for delivery in Simrahi,” he added.