Awantipora Police crack hit-and-run case that claimed life of toddler

Awantipora, Oct 24: Awantipora Police have solved a hit-and-run case in which a five-year-old child lost his life in Tral area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district earlier this month. The accused driver has been arrested, and the vehicle involved in the incident has been seized following a meticulous investigation aided by modern surveillance techniques.

The incident occurred on October 10, when an unidentified vehicle hit a kid, Ariz, aged five, son of Abdul Gaffar Bhat, a resident of Hardumir Tral. The injured child was initially rushed to a local hospital and later referred to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

Police immediately registered a case under FIR No. 126/2025 at Police Station Tral under sections 281 and 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). A special investigation team led by SHO Tral, Inspector Abdul Rashid, under the supervision of SDPO Tral, Shri Rajesh Kumar, was constituted to trace the unknown driver.

Using CCTV footage collected from multiple locations across Tral and its adjoining areas, the police identified the suspect’s vehicle after a sustained technical and human surveillance operation. The accused was later arrested and has been identified as Mukhtar Ahmad Mir, son of Habibullah Mir, resident of Amlar Nowpora, presently residing at Naibugh Tral.

The vehicle involved in the offence, an Alto 800 bearing registration number JK13G-6873, has been seized. Police officials said the arrest demonstrates their commitment to swift justice and deterrence against reckless driving and negligence on public roads.

Awantipora Police reaffirmed their resolve to take strict action against those involved in criminal or unlawful acts and urged motorists to observe all traffic and safety norms to prevent such tragedies. [KNT]