Daijiworld Media Network- Belagavi
Belagavi, Feb 21: Karnataka Police have launched an extensive search for a canter truck involved in a hit-and-run incident that nearly claimed the life of Karnataka's minister for women and child development, Laxmi Hebbalkar. The accident, which occurred near Kittur, left the minister and her brother, Congress MLC Channaraj Hattiholi, injured.
Minister Hebbalkar suffered fractures in her vertebrae and neck when her car veered off the road and crashed into a tree. After spending 13 days in the hospital, she was discharged and later stated that she felt like she was "reborn" following the traumatic experience.
Police investigations suggest that the truck involved in the accident originated from Punjab or Haryana. Based on CCTV footage from the Hirebagewadi toll, authorities have compiled a list of 60 suspect canter trucks. As of Friday, 30 vehicles had already been verified, and the search was ongoing.
Belagavi Superintendent of Police (SP Bheemashankar Guled) confirmed that teams were scrutinizing all canters that passed through the National Highway (NH-48) on the day of the accident.
Initially, the minister’s family attributed the accident to an attempt to avoid a stray dog, causing the car to skid off the road. However, the case took a new turn when the minister’s official driver filed a complaint at the Kittur police station, alleging that the accident was caused by a rashly driven canter truck.
In the complaint, the driver stated that while traveling on NH-48 near Ambadagatti Cross, a canter truck in lane one suddenly veered left without signaling. Despite attempts to avoid a collision, the car was clipped by the truck, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle swerved onto the service road before crashing into a tree. The truck driver allegedly fled the scene without stopping.
The incident has sparked political debate in Karnataka, given the long-standing rivalry between Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar’s family and former minister and senior BJP leader Ramesh Jarkiholi’s family. Minister Hebbalkar, who rose from humble beginnings, has been a vocal challenger to the Jarkiholi family's political dominance in Belagavi.
She is known to have the strong backing of deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, while PWD minister Satish Jarkiholi, a close aide of CM Siddaramaiah, is the younger brother of Ramesh Jarkiholi. Given these political equations, speculations are rife over whether the accident was purely an unfortunate incident or if there was more to it.
The police investigation continues, and authorities remain focused on tracking down the canter truck and its driver to ascertain the full circumstances of the accident.