Cop transporting seized vehicle dies in accident

Ramanathapuram: A head constable was killed on Monday morning after a government bus collided with a tractor he was transporting to the Devipattinam police station. The officer had seized the tractor, along with other machinery, during a raid on illegal sand mining near Therbogi village.

The impact caused both vehicles to overturn, and 13 passengers on the bus sustained minor injuries.Police said that based on information about illegal sand smuggling near Therbogi village, a team of police led by Devipattinam inspector Arumugam and sub-inspector Sundaramurthy rushed to the spot and seized three tractors and an excavator at around 3.30am. Four people, including Karthik Raja, 28, were detained.One of the seized tractors was being driven by head constable Mahesh Kumar, 41, to be taken to the Devipattinam police station. Meanwhile, a government bus from Nagercoil to Velankanni rammed into the rear of the tractor on East Coast Road near Kopperimadam.The impact led to both vehicles overturning, resulting in the severe head injury for Kumar, and injuries to 13 passengers. The passengers and head constable were admitted to Ramanathapuram govt hospital for treatment.

However, Kumar succumbed to his injury in the hospital. A case was registered by Devipattinam police and is currently being investigated.Chief minister C Joseph Vijay offered his condolences and announced Rs30 lakh for the family of the bereaved.