Ex-Army Lt Gen KS Mann's death: Auto driver arrested 5 days after Panchkula hit-and-run

• Retired Lt Gen K S Mann killed in Panchkula hit-and-run by auto-rickshaw
• Police arrested the accused driver, Om Prakash, four days after the incident
• Authorities to enforce stricter road safety and boost patrolling in accident zones

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Five days after retired Lieutenant General K S Mann died in a hit-and-run incident, Panchkula police on Wednesday arrested an auto-rickshaw driver allegedly involved in the case.

Lt Gen Mann was hit by a speeding auto-rickshaw on the evening of January 9 while he was out for a walk near his residence in Panchkula. He suffered serious injuries and was rushed to the Chandimandir Command Hospital, where he died the next day.

Following the incident, his wife lodged a complaint at the Mansa Devi police station on January 10, detailing how her husband was struck by the vehicle and the driver fled the spot.

Panchkula deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Srishti Gupta said a case was registered under Sections 281, 125(B) and 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and an investigation was launched immediately.

The accused was traced on January 13 and arrested the next day. He was identified as Om Prakash, a native of Rajasthan who is currently living in Manav Colony, Saketri, Chandigarh.

Expressing grief over the incident, DCP Gupta said the death of a senior army officer who had served the nation for decades was a major loss for Panchkula and the country. She said police would take strict steps to prevent such incidents in the future, including increased patrolling, special drives against rash and negligent driving, deployment of additional police personnel in accident-prone areas, strict enforcement of traffic rules and road safety awareness campaigns.

Inspector Munish Kumar, station house officer of Mansa Devi police station, said efforts are also being made to improve road safety by installing traffic lights and CCTV cameras at important locations to monitor violations and deter reckless driving.

Lt Gen Mann, 83, had a distinguished military career spanning over 35 years. Commissioned into the 3rd Battalion of the Bihar Regiment in 1960, he went on to raise and command the 12th Battalion of the regiment and held several key appointments before retiring in December 1996.