Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Kulgam Police have arrested a man from Uttar Pradesh in connection with the death of an 11-year-old girl killed in a hit-and-run accident in Vessu, Qazigund, earlier this month, and have also recovered the vehicle allegedly used in the fatal incident.
The tragedy unfolded on July 10 near KP Colony in Vessu, when an unidentified vehicle struck the child and fled the scene without stopping. She was rushed to the Government Medical College, Anantnag, but succumbed to her injuries despite medical efforts. The incident triggered widespread grief in the area and prompted Police Station Qazigund to register FIR No. 176/2026 under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, launching an intensive manhunt for the driver.
Investigators pieced together the case through CCTV footage, technical evidence and sustained legwork, eventually zeroing in on a suspect and the vehicle involved. Acting on these leads, a Kulgam Police team travelled to Uttar Pradesh and, with assistance from local police there, arrested the accused, identified as Arun Gupta, son of Lalit Ram Gupta, a resident of Behrinbagh in Barabanki district. The vehicle allegedly used in the accident was also traced and seized as part of the investigation, which police said remains ongoing.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Kulgam, said the arrest sends a clear message that offenders cannot evade justice simply by crossing out of the Union Territory, crediting the breakthrough to coordinated technical investigation and the persistence of the probe team. The SSP also used the occasion to appeal to motorists across the district to drive responsibly, adhere strictly to traffic regulations, and never abandon the scene of an accident, stressing that timely help to victims can often mean the difference between life and death.
The case has renewed attention on road safety enforcement in South Kashmir, where hit-and-run incidents involving minors have previously drawn public outrage. Officials said further legal proceedings against the accused would follow as the investigation concludes, and reiterated the department’s commitment to pursuing justice for the victim’s family regardless of jurisdictional boundaries.
