A 28-year-old pickup driver from Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad, identified as Azeem, died on August 4 after allegedly being assaulted following a road accident involving a vehicle carrying Kanwar pilgrims.
According to his family, the incident took place on July 31 near the Garh toll plaza on the Kanwar route in Hapur district when Azeem’s pickup truck was involved in a collision with an auto carrying Kanwariyas.
Azeem suffered serious injuries in the alleged assault and was first admitted to a local hospital before being referred to Meerut and later shifted to a hospital in Delhi, where he died after undergoing treatment for five days.
Family Alleges Assault After Road Accident
In a complaint filed with police, Azeem’s father, Intezaar, alleged that after the collision, the auto driver and several passengers attacked his son.
He named the auto driver, Farman, along with Manish, Ankit, Lokesh and Shivam, all residents of Bajheda Khurd village, and alleged that they, along with three to four unidentified persons, assaulted Azeem.
The family has accused the group of carrying out a fatal attack following the accident.
Cross FIR Filed Against Deceased Driver
Police have also registered a cross FIR against Azeem based on a complaint by the auto driver.
According to the complaint, Azeem deliberately rammed his pickup truck into the auto and attempted to run over the driver. He has been booked under charges of attempt to murder in the cross case.
The allegations made in the cross FIR have not been independently verified.
Investigation Underway
Police have not yet issued a detailed statement on the circumstances leading to the assault or Azeem’s death. Efforts to contact local police officials for comment reportedly did not receive an immediate response.
The incident comes amid reports of several altercations and road-related disputes during this year’s Kanwar Yatra. Authorities are investigating both FIRs to determine the sequence of events leading to the driver’s death.
