Three days after a >13-year old boy sleeping at a bus stop was hit by a speeding car, resulting in his death, the police are yet to nab the main accused.
The slow pace of investigation has angered RTI activists. They have blamed the State government for not taking strong steps to curb drunken driving.
“The State government is accountable for Muniraj’s death and the grief caused to his family. Successive governments have failed to bring down road traffic accidents. Reckless drunken drivers have taken far too many lives on city roads,” said social activist Narayanan.
He said there was no proper policy for the safety of pedestrians and non-motorised vehicles. “Road accident victims receive compensation after many years. This puts families of road accident victims to unimaginable misery and helplessness,” he said.
The incident took place around 1.30 a.m. on Thursday when Muniraj (13), his brother Vasu (8) and cousin Subha (10) were sleeping at the bus stop near the Government Hospital for Women and Children on Pantheon Road in Egmore.
A speeding Mercedes hit the boys and came to a halt a few feet away.
The driver of the car, Kumar was arrested by the police. The other occupants of the car were Shaju Purushothaman, son of M.P. Purushothaman of the Empee Group, and two of his friends.
On Friday, a day after the accident, Muniraj, who was admitted to the ICU of the >government children’s hospital, died . According to the police, the occupants of the car were drunk.
They suspect Shaju, who is now absconding, was behind the wheels. Soon after the accident, the police had formed four teams to nab Shaju.
