THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sanal was mowed down and killed by an approaching car while he was engaged in a verbal spat with Neyyattinkara DySP B Harikumar. The cop is currently absconding and he has been booked for murder. It is also alleged that Harikumar pushed him down to the road, resulting in his death due to car accident.

32-year-old Sanal was an electrician in Kodungavila. He is survived by wife and two children. The incident took place around 11 pm on Monday in Kodungavila when the duo was engaged in a verbal spat over their parked cars. Harikumar in mufti had gone to Jeweller Binu’s house after parking his car. Sanal was Binu’s neighbour. The DySP couldn’t move his vehicle as the Sanal’s vehicle was parked in front of his. He asked him to move the car and the car was moved. Following this, the argument began. At the end of the quarrel, the DySP allegedly pushed Sanal on to the road, when the latter was hit by a speeding car.

The DySP initially did not allow Sanal to be taken to the hospital, according to witnesses. Although he was first admitted to the Neyyatinkara General Hospital, authorities recommended that Sanal be shifted to the Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram.

Following this, Sanal was rushed to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was declared brought dead. Locals who witnessed the incident demanded that a case of murder be filed against the DySP. Allegations by locals that Sanal was taken to the Neyyatinkara police station first, instead of the hospital, have also led to demands that a probe be initiated against the station SI.

The DySP has been suspended following the incident and a case has been registered against him under IPC Section 302 (punishment for murder) at the police station.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said: “What should not have happened has happened. There is a serious complaint against the DySP which involves someone’s life being lost. That is why an ASP will investigate this case as it involves a DySP. This is a serious issue according to the government and necessary seriousness will be adopted while investigating the case”.