Journalism of Courage
I gave chase for 12 kilometres…wish I could have stopped it earlier
Even as driver Santosh Mane played villain on Wednesday crushing people,smashing cars and two-wheelers and anything that came his way,he left behind a trial of death and destruction. During the rampage,there many,including cops,who played heroes,saving lives and rushing the injured to hospitals. Many gave chase to the bus. The hero of the day was 21-year-old Sharif Ibrahim Kutty,the first to reach the driver and stop him from wreaking further havoc. I am happy I could stop him from causing further damage…I wish I were able to stop him earlier. I tried my best but could not reach him as he was driving rashly, said Sharif,recounting his heroic act which has come in for praise from citizens and police alike.
At Kasewadi,Sharif said the driver nearly ran over two children. But I drove fast and went between the bus and the children, he said. Here,at least two cars an Indica and a Swift were damaged as the bus brushed them.
The most ghastly site,said Sharif,was near Sarasbaug where for nearly one kilometre the bus dragged the Twister,a two-wheeler. This was a rattling…The two-wheeler with its rider being dragged… said Sharif. Along with the two-wheeler,a number of vehicles were damaged as the bus moved in zig-zag path. The police again tried 3to stop the bus by putting up a barricade near Swargate,but once against the driver knocked them down.
Near Neelayam theatre,he hit a Maruti car,a rickshaw and two other vehicles. This slowed the bus down which gave Sharif an opportunity to get close. I jumped over the barricades,went to the other side and entered the bus. The driver was still at the wheel apparently trying to step on the accelerator. As I caught him,the yelled…Mujhe maar do…Mujhe Maar Do…I pulled him out and spanked him just when other people stormed the bus, said Sharif,who is from Mallapuram district of Kerala. His father is a businessman and mother Salina is a fashion designer. He said,I wish I had stopped him much earlier…I must have chased the bus for nearly 12 kilometres. The bus came to a hold near Parvati.
Along with Sharif,Bapu Laxman Lonkar,a 23-year-old policeman attached to Circuit House,entered the bus to catch hold of the driver. I was heading for work when I saw the bus driven rashly from Laxminarayan Chowk. I chased it and scaled it through the stair on the backside, he said.
