First victim post-Enforcement Automation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Call it bad timing. Just hours after Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had launched the Enforcement Automation of the Transport Department in a bid to reduce the alleged difficulties faced by motorists in the name of vehicle-checking, a man died while fleeing from a team of Highway Patrol of the police on Tuesday night. The victim was identified as Shaji, 23, of Vellanad, near Aryanad, who died after falling in a water-filled pit formed out of a rock excavation.  According to sources, the incident occurred on the MC Road at Chittazha, near Vattappara, in the city suburbs around 9 pm. Shaji, along with five others, was returning from the marriage reception of one of his relatives at Maruthoor, about 2 km from Chittazha. The car was driven by one of his relatives, Cyrus. When they reached Maruthoor, a Highway Patrol team was conducting a vehicle-checking to catch drunken drivers. But Titus, who was driving the car, chose not to stop the vehicle and sped away, only to be pursued by Highway Patrol.  On reaching Chittazha, in a bid to escape from the police, who were following them, they deviated from the MC Road and entered an alley, which led to an abandoned quarry, where they left the car and ran in different directions. Shaji, who was not familiar with the place, ran straight into the pit and drowned.  Even though the police and the local residents pulled out his body and rushed to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital, he was declared brought dead.  The police act invited the wrath of the family and friends of the victim. They alleged that Shaji died because the police had failed to call in emergency medical services for the victim. They surrounded Vattappara police station with the body of Shaji on Wednesday after post-mortem, in protest against the incident. However, the police said that the car in which Shaji travelled exceeded the speed limit, which prompted them to try to stop the vehicle. In addition, all the passengers in the car, including Cyrus, who was driving the vehicle, were tested positive for alcohol in the medical examination conducted after taking them into custody. The police also recovered several bottles of liquor from the Ambassador car in which Shaji travelled.  Shaji is survived by parents Swarnan and Jaseela and sister Deepthi.