NSUI leader, friend die in high-speed crash in Mangaluru, police issue advisory against drunk driving

The two men succumbed to injuries at a local hospital in Mangaluru.

Among the three other passengers who were in the car, one person, Ashish, 23, suffered grievous injuries while two others — Vansh Devadiga, 22, and Jerry, a foreign passport holder — suffered minor injuries. The Mangaluru traffic police have registered a case of rash and negligent driving on the basis of a complaint filed by Devadiga.

According to the police, the youths were partying on the night of June 17 and were returning to Mangaluru City from the Talapady region of Dakshina Kannada when the accident occurred near the Dream Deal Centre at Jappinamogaru in Mangaluru city.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Om Shree Pujari, a dedicated leader and pillar of our student movement. His commitment to students’ rights and justice will always be remembered,” the NSUI said in a statement on social media regarding the death of its leader.

Following the accident, the Mangaluru city police have issued a warning against speeding on roads and drunk driving. It stated that 75 deaths have occurred due to road traffic accidents in the city this year.

“Driving under the influence of alcohol significantly increases the risk of accidents, potentially resulting in fatalities and lifelong trauma for families. As per Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, those caught for drink-driving may be fined up to Rs 10,000. Overspeeding, a leading cause of road accidents, is punishable under Section 183 of the Act. Fines range from Rs 1,000 for LMVs to Rs 2,000 for HMVs,” the Mangaluru police said in a statement.

Mangaluru Police Commissioner C H Sudhir Reddy said on June 18 that out of the 75 road accident deaths, 70 were caused due to rash and negligent driving. In the majority of cases victims were under the age of 25, he said. “This is a serious concern,” Reddy stated.