Representative image showing a bike that has been involved in an accident
Credit: iStock Photo
Mandya: Tension prevailed as the death of a three-year-old girl triggered a protest against the traffic police, in Karnataka's Mandya, on Monday.
Hrithiksha (3), daughter of Ashok and Vanishri of Goravanahalli, in Maddur taluk, is the deceased.
Protestors said that the couple was taking Hrithiksha on their two-wheeler for treatment due to a dog bite, when the traffic cops tried to stop their vehicle for checking.
It is alleged that the police personnel caught hold of the handle of the motorbike to stop it, following which the vehicle lost balance and all the three fell down. The child sustained serious injuries. Immediately, the public took the child to the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) hospital in an autorickshaw, but the doctors declared her brought-dead.
The angry protestors placed the body of the girl in front of the hospital. They were supported by various organisations. They staged a road block on Bengaluru-Mysuru highway and raised slogans against the traffic police.
Cops suspended after protest
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police Mallikarjuna Baladandi rushed to the spot and told the protesters that three ASIs -- Nagaraju, Jayaramu and Gurudeva -- of the traffic police have been suspended. He told the protesters to file a complaint and assured them of suitable compensation.
Reacting to the incident, Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy posted on X, “I am deeply hurt by the death of a child in Mandya. The traffic police should behave responsibly. Checking the vehicles to create fear among the motorists should be stopped. If they were a little cautious, the girl's death could have been prevented."
District in-charge Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy also shared his grief over the incident on social media. "Suitable action would be taken against the police personnel on duty," he said.