The driver of a vehicle which knocked down three people to death at Khurai Chaithabi Leirak near Shaibo hospital in Imphal East was arrested on Wednesday, sources said.
According to the Porompat police, the vehicle driver has been identified as S Sopei, 37, son of WS Ningwon of Ukhrul Tuinem, Ukhrul district.
Police said on Tuesday that at around 11:10 pm, they received information that on the same day at around 10:30 pm, a speeding vehicle hit three pedestrians at Khurai Chaithabi Leirak near Shaibo hospital, killing the three on the spot. The vehicle fled from the spot immediately, the police said.
A suo moto case has been registered at Porompat police station in connection with the incident, police said.
Police said that on getting the information, a police team of Porompat PS immediately rushed to the spot and checked the CCTV video footage installed along the road of Khurai areas, Khuman Lampak and other suspected locations, including Imphal West areas to identify the unknown vehicle.
After a hectic effort, the vehicle was identified as Tata Telcoline bearing registration number UP 32 DN 2031 and the driver was identified as Sope on Wednesday.
It was found that the accused was hiding to evade police arrest and had started dismantling his vehicle to destroy the evidence at a workshop at Ayangpalli area, police said.
The police team led by assistant sub-inspector, Akhtar Hussain, under the overall supervision of SP, Imphal East, arrested the accused person and recovered the vehicle that was used while committing the crime.
Police further reported that section 201 IPC has been added for causing disappearance of evidence and screen offenders.
