Lorry crashes Hegde's security vehicle, minister alleges attempt on his life

A grain-laden lorry crashed into Union Minister Ananth Kumar Hegde's security vehicle on national highway-4 near Halageri, Ranebennur taluk on Tuesday night.

An ASI who was part of the minister's entourage was injured but the minister himself escaped unscathed.

Haveri Superintendent of Police K Parashuram said that the car which bound for Shivamogga was at a crossroad when the lorry suddenly careened off the road and crashed into the minister's pilot car.

However, initial investigations by the police have revealed that the incident was indeed an accident and not an attempt on the minister's life as alleged by Ananth Kumar Hegde who tweeted stating that the incident was a deliberate attempt on his life and not an accident.

Hegde has claimed that the incident was made to look like an accident but was actually an attempt to kill him. Investigations are still on.

Police have gathered that the lorry driver is Nasir Ahmed Mofin of Muthinakatte village, Narasimharajapura, Chikkamagaluru district. He was driving a lorry owned by Vishwas Roadlines. Police added that the mishap took place because the driver was speaking on the mobile phone while driving and was not minding the road.

But minister Hegde kept insisting that the lorry was stationary till his car approached it from the opposite direction, and began to move only when his car was closer.

The lorry driver's target was the minister's vehicle which escaped the collision by a whisker and not the security vehicle, the minister claimed.