Hit-and-run case prime accused missing as HC cancels bail

Nagercoil (PTI): The prime accused in the hit-and- run incident in Kanyakumari involving two highways officials and a police constable was on Friday found absconding soon after the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court cancelled his anticipatory bail.
Senthilkumar, who allegedly attempted to kill the two highway officials and a police constable by running a car over them on Feb 6, was found absconding when police went to his house near Tiruvattar, about 35 km from here, to arrest him in view of cancellation of the anticipatory bail, police said.
District Superintendent of Police Santosh Kumar told reporters that a special police team had rushed to Chennai as it was suspected that Senthilkumar might have gone there.
Earier, Justice K N Pasha cancelled the anticipatory bail following a request from police, who submitted that he was involved in a serious crime of attempting to murder officials who were removing encroachments, as per high court orders.
Senthilkumar had surrendered at a court here on March 5 to avail the anticipatory bail granted to him by the high court on Feb 27. He was also directed to appear before the local police for two weeks.
In the murder attempt caught on video camera, a speeding car, hit the two Highways officials, Anthony Xavier and Sundaram, and a policeman while they were engaged in demolishing a temple constructed on encroached land in Kanyakumari on February 6.
The Highways Engineers Association had been pressing for the arrest of Senthilkumar, claiming he was behind the wheels when the incident happened. Police had registered a case against five persons and arrested three of them. Two of the arrested had obtained bail.
The HINDU; Friday, March 7, 2008