Truck driver runs over, kills cop at traffic block on Pune-Mumbai Highway, arrested

Deputy Superintendent of Police with Pune Rural, Amol Mandave said, “Our probe has revealed that the truck was speeding recklessly on the Old Pune-Mumbai highway as he was moving towards Pune. Some other people travelling on the highway tried to warn him and asked him to slow down but he did not.”

Inspector Kumar Kadam of Vadgaon Maval Police station said, “A couple riding on their bike informed the police about a reckless truck driver. After receiving information, a traffic block was set up at the Vadgaon Phata traffic junction. The cops signalled the driver to stop when the truck came near the block. The driver stopped and turned off the ignition. When constable Dhende signalled the driver to get down, he signalled to the constable that he was coming out. He then suddenly started the truck and knocked down Dhende at high speed before fleeing towards Talegaon. Dhende was fatally injured.”

Inspector Kadam added, “A manhunt was launched for the truck driver. A team from the Local Crime Branch of Pune Rural police arrested the driver and his assistant in the early hours of Wednesday from Mahalunge where they were hiding. The truck has also been seized.”

Deputy Superintendent Mandave added, “We have invoked murder charges in the case as the act of deliberately starting the truck, speeding and running over the on duty cop amounts to murder.” Dhende, a native of Uruli Kanchan area is survived by his parents, wife and two children — a daughter and son. Last rites were performed on Wednesday in presence of senior brass and staff of Pune Rural police.

Superintendent of Police for Pune Rural, Pankaj Deshmukh said, “We have initiated the process to extend ex-gratia financial assistance to the kin and also to a government job to the family on compassionate grounds. The other service related compensation and insurance is also being processed.”