Mumbai: Car knocks down cops, rams into 26/11 memorial

Five people, including four police constables, were injured after they were knocked down by a speeding Audi at Marine Drive in the wee hours of yesterday. After knocking down the five, the car crashed into 26/11 police memorial outside police gymkhana at Marine Lines. The injured constables were identified as Sainath Dhuri, Pankaj Khairnar, Amol Kale, and Suresh Tatte.

The Audi rammed into 26/11 police memorial at police gymkhana in Marine Lines after its driver Dinesh Devidas Khandekar knocked down four constables sitting on a nearby bench. Constables Pankaj Khairnar, Amol Kale and Suresh Tatte. Pics/Milind Karekar

Officials said of the four, Dhuri sustained grievous injuries and fractured his left leg. He was rushed to the Bombay Hospital where he is currently recuperating. Officials of the Marine Drive police station said the incident occurred around 1.30 am on Friday. They said vigil and naka-bandis in the area were upped after a series of terror alerts. The incident occurred during a naka-bandi implemented to rein in motorists driving under the influence of alcohol.

Pankaj Khairnar

Narrating his ordeal, Constable Pankaj Khairnar said, "Around 1.30 am we saw a car speeding in our direction. We were sitting on a bench on the footpath, while our jeep was parked on the road. The Audi driver who lost control over the car, in his bid to avoid crashing into the others, took the footpath and rammed the car into the bench we had occupied." Khairnar is currently recuperating at the Nagpada police hospital.

Amol Kale

The car driver also knocked down motorcyclist Mubarak Shaikh at a time when his vehicle documents were being scrutinised by the other police personnel. Suresh Tatte said, "After knocking us down, the driver crashed the car into the 26/11 police memorial."

Suresh Tatte

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Bombay Hospital Spokesperson Dr Sagar Sakle said, "The patient (Dhuri) was brought to the hospital at 4 am. He suffered a fracture in the lower region of the left leg and minor injuries to the same leg. He was taken to the operation theatre (OT) for a surgery to fix the fracture." Fortunately, Kale, Tatte, Khairnar and Shaikh sustained minor injuries in the accident.

Driver Dinesh Devidas Khandekar

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Senior Police Inspector of the Marine Drive police station Zunjarao Garal said, "The car belongs to Dharmesh Shah, chairman and managing director of BDR Pharmaceuticals International Private Ltd. Shah's family had arranged a surprise party for his 25th wedding anniversary at a hotel in Nariman Point. Shah asked his driver to get a fresh set of clothes from his residence at Sterling Tower in Gamdevi. The accident occurred while the driver was on his way to the hotel."

Driver Dinesh Devidas Khandekar (42) was arrested and booked under Sections 279 (rash driving on a public way), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) of the IPC. u00a0