DRIVER JUMPS OFF MANDOVI BRIDGE AFTER GETTING CAUGHT BY RTO

PANJIM: It was almost like a scene from a movie. On Monday evening, a drunk tempo driver dashed against a twowheeler at Agasaim market, fled to Panaji and to avoid being fined by RTO officials jumped into the Mandovi river.

He was later rescued by local fishermen and handed over to Porvorim police. A case has been registered against him for attempt to commit suicide and for refusing to comply with orders given by RTO officials.

Accused Ritu Sharma, 25, a driver for a private courier service, was allegedly driving the company vehicle in a rash and negligent manner when he dashed against a parked two-wheeler at Agasaim market.

The two-wheeler owner, who was standing nearby and talking on his cellphone, shouted at the tempo driver asking him to stop, but Sharma sped from the place. The two-wheeler owner then chased Sharma but was not able to catch the tempo driver who was speeding. Seeing some RTO officials near St Cruz junction the two-wheeler owner complained to then that the driver of the tempo appeared drunk, was speeding and that he had sped away after dashing his vehicle. The RTO officials then chased the tempo, but Sharma to escape them started overspeeding and driving erratically.

RTO officials, however, overtook Sharma on the Mandovi bridge and as they were about to question him, the tempo driver jumped from the bridge into the river below. He was rescued from the river by fishermen at Malim jetty. Porvorim police then took him for a medical examination and the medical report confirmed that Sharma was under the influence of alcohol.  (TOI)