Jaipur: A chilling case of reckless driving has shaken Rajasthan’s capital as three people lost their lives and eight others were left injured when a speeding SUV rammed into a group of pedestrians near the Nahargarh area on Saturday night. The harrowing incident, caught on CCTV footage, reveals the moment the vehicle violently struck the victims on a bustling city street, leaving behind a trail of devastation and public outrage.
The CCTV video, now viral, shows a black SUV hurtling through the narrow stretch of road, mowing down unsuspecting pedestrians without any signs of braking. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic and horrifying, with bodies flung into the air and others left writhing in pain on the road. The accident has triggered widespread anger, leading to spontaneous protests by local residents demanding accountability.
Panic, Protest, and Public Outrage
The incident took place around 8:45 PM in a densely populated part of the city, where locals had gathered for evening routines. According to bystanders, the car was moving at an excessively high speed and showed no intent to slow down. Several pedestrians were reportedly dragged for several meters before the vehicle sped off.
In the immediate aftermath, shocked residents and shopkeepers rushed to the victims’ aid, calling emergency services and attempting to stabilize the injured. Multiple ambulances reached the scene shortly after and shifted the wounded to SMS Hospital and other nearby medical facilities. Authorities confirmed that three victims succumbed to their injuries, while eight others are undergoing treatment, with two in critical condition.
Anger swept through the Nahargarh locality as news of the hit-and-run spread. Locals took to the streets in protest, blocking the road and setting tyres ablaze. Slogans condemning reckless driving and calling for justice for the victims echoed through the night. The protest lasted several hours, compelling police deployment to bring the situation under control.
Accused Identified as Political Worker, Arrested by Locals
Police have identified the driver of the SUV as Usman, who is reportedly associated with the Congress party in Rajasthan. After causing the accident, he allegedly fled the scene, abandoning the victims without offering any help. However, alert locals pursued him on a motorcycle, successfully intercepting the fleeing vehicle about 2 kilometres away. He was then handed over to the police by the residents, who expressed anger at what they described as “sheer arrogance and disregard for human life.”
Law enforcement officials have taken Usman into custody and are conducting a thorough investigation. Senior police officers visited the scene shortly after the incident, examining CCTV footage and speaking to witnesses. Authorities are also probing whether the driver was under the influence of alcohol or narcotics, or if mechanical failure played a role in the crash.
Political Link Fuels Controversy
The revelation that the accused has political affiliations has added another dimension to the public anger, with demands for a fair and transparent investigation rising. While local Congress leaders have distanced themselves from the accused, calling for the “law to take its own course,” opposition parties have accused the ruling state government of not doing enough to curb reckless driving and political impunity.
This is not the first time Rajasthan has seen such a violent act involving a speeding vehicle. Citizens have highlighted the growing number of road accidents in urban areas and are urging stricter traffic law enforcement. “If this is allowed to go unchecked, anyone with money and connections will believe they can get away with anything,” said one protester near the site.
Eyewitness Accounts Detail Harrowing Moments
Several eyewitnesses recounted the horrifying sequence of events. “We were just standing near a tea stall, and suddenly, out of nowhere, this car came crashing into the crowd,” said Ramesh Sharma, a local shopkeeper who helped pull victims from beneath the vehicle. Another local, Neha Bhargava, added, “I saw a young boy thrown into the air and land several feet away. There was blood everywhere. We screamed for help.”
Emergency response was quick, with Jaipur Police and medical teams arriving within minutes. Traffic in the area was rerouted as investigators cordoned off the crash site and began collecting evidence. Broken glass, bloodstains, and personal belongings of the victims lay scattered across the road, bearing silent witness to the night’s horror.
Police Launch Detailed Investigation
Senior officials confirmed that a case under multiple IPC sections, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, rash driving, and fleeing the scene, has been registered. Jaipur Commissioner of Police, Biju George Joseph, stated that the case will be “handled strictly and in accordance with the law.”
Preliminary reports indicate that the SUV belonged to a relative of the accused, and had been taken out without prior knowledge of the vehicle owner. Police are also seeking to verify the driver’s state at the time of the incident using blood tests and toxicology reports.
“We are exploring all possibilities, including the possibility of drunk driving. We’re also examining mechanical records of the vehicle to rule out brake or steering failure,” an investigating officer told Samachar Post.
Families of Victims Demand Swift Justice
Relatives of the deceased and injured have expressed grief and anger over the incident. Suman Devi, who lost her 24-year-old son in the crash, said, “He had just stepped out to get milk. He never came back. What kind of justice can we expect when these people think they can kill and walk away?”
Families are demanding not just the maximum punishment for the accused, but also financial support for the victims’ families and improved road safety measures in the city. NGOs and citizen rights groups have also joined the cause, calling for a city-wide road safety audit and stricter penalties for traffic violations.
Political Reactions and Public Sentiment
The tragic event has drawn reactions from leaders across the political spectrum. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and ordered a high-level probe into the incident. “No one is above the law. We assure that strictest possible action will be taken,” his statement read.
Opposition leaders, meanwhile, have criticized the current state of urban traffic enforcement, accusing the administration of turning a blind eye to a growing culture of impunity among politically connected individuals. Social media, too, has been abuzz with condemnation, with many users demanding that the case be tried in a fast-track court.
Road Safety Under Scrutiny
The incident has once again brought to focus the state of urban road safety in India, especially in rapidly growing cities like Jaipur. Experts have long pointed out that the lack of speed monitoring, poor pedestrian infrastructure, and lenient traffic law enforcement are creating dangerous conditions for ordinary citizens.
According to government data, Rajasthan witnessed over 10,000 road accident deaths in the past year alone, a significant portion of them involving hit-and-run cases. Safety activists are urging the state government to implement automated surveillance, improve lighting and signage in busy zones, and launch awareness campaigns to instill safer driving habits among motorists.
The Jaipur hit-and-run tragedy has exposed glaring gaps in urban road safety, accountability, and law enforcement. While the arrest of the accused has brought some relief to grieving families, the demand for justice and systemic change continues to grow. As investigations proceed, the spotlight remains on whether the justice system will rise to the occasion and whether city administrators will take the necessary steps to prevent such avoidable, life-shattering incidents from happening again.
