Four killed in hit-and-run accident near Bangalore

Four people, including two women, died and seven others were injured late Monday when they were mowed down by a speeding car, allegedly driven by a former civic body president, on the city's outskirts, police said.

"We have booked a homicide case against the accused (Krishnappa) who is absconding after he fled from the accident spot near Parappana Agrahara junction where the victims were run over and succumbed to grave injuries later," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) B.S. Lokesh Kumar told IANS.

Of the four victims, two were vendors selling vegetables on cycle-carts by the road side and two were their customers. Among the injured, four were pedestrians on the footpath and three standing nearby.

"According to one of the injured, the accused came out of the mangled car (a Land Rover) and walked away from the spot instead of taking the victims to a nearby hospital," Kumar said.

The victims were identified as Indrani (40), Pusparani (45), Basavaraj (30) and Vijaya Nayak (35).

The injured were taken to a nearby private hospital by passersby.

"An eyewitness told our patrolling party that the accused was recklessly driving the car at high speed and was under the influence of alcohol. We have formed three teams to investigate the case and trace him soon," Lokesh Kumar said.

The 60-year-old Krishnappa, who was president of the Bommanahalli city municipal council till 2009, lives alone in the civic ward after his wife and daughter deserted him over a family dispute.

"We hope to crack the case once we arrest Krishnappa, who has switched off his mobile and was not found at his residence on the city's southwest suburb," the DCP added.