Fugitive Auto Driver Held 5 Months After Fatal Hit-and-Run

An autorickshaw driver, Israel Gurjar, was apprehended in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, five months after he struck and killed 63-year-old Gopal Wagh near Balewadi Phata in Pune. The incident occurred on July 20 when Gurjar, after hitting Wagh, falsely promised to take him to the hospital. Instead, he abandoned the victim in a secluded area, leading to his death and a subsequent missing person report by Wagh's sons.

The Baner police initiated an investigation, tracing the autorickshaw to its owner and obtaining the driver's details. Gurjar had fled to his native place in Uttar Pradesh, frequently changing his phone number and working as a carpenter. The breakthrough came when Gurjar contacted his father, whose phone was being monitored by the police, revealing his location.

Gurjar was arrested in Garh Mukteshwar, near Meerut, and brought back to Pune. Police registered a case under culpable homicide and evidence disappearance sections. Legal action is also being considered against the autorickshaw owner. The incident highlighted concerns about the bystander effect, as no one from the crowd accompanied the injured victim to the nearby hospital.