19-year-old held for Chandigarh hit and run

In a case of reckless driving, a girl, "racing" with another car, allegedly hit a two-wheeler in a high security area in Chandigarh killing a youth and his minor cousin and was later arrested. The incident took place at Sector-3, at a spot close to the residences of chief ministers of both Punjab and Haryana in Chandigarh, late on Tuesday night.

The police said the accident was the result of a "race" between two cars -- a Maruti Swift driven by some people and a Honda Accord driven by 19-year old Amanat Brar, who was accompanied by some of her friends. Amanat, who was suspected to be in an inebriated state, lost control over the vehicle while driving at a high speed from Sukhna Lake towards Sector-3, police said. She allegedly hit a motorbike which was passing by, killing Sukhwinder, a 21 year-old engineering student, and his five-year-old cousin Harpreet, they said. The impact of the collision was such that the child was thrown several metres up into the air, the police said citing eyewitnesses. While Harpreet died on the spot, the youth succumbed to injuries at a hospital. The victims belonged to Kansal village near Chandigarh.

The girls fled the spot in the swift after the incident, leaving their vehicle behind, they said, adding the car, which has been badly damaged, bore a VIP registration number belonging to a retired Lieutenant Colonel. Amanat, a relative of the ex-army man, reached the Sector-3 police station in Chnadigarh along with him and surrendered. The girl, who is studying in the US and whose parents are in Dubai, was formally arrested, Deputy Superintendent of Police Jagbir Singh told reporters.

About action against the others present in the car at the time of the incident, he said the person at the wheel is liable for action. To a query whether the girl was in an inebriated state, the DSP said "only forensic experts can throw light on this question." Meanwhile, Harpreet's father Dalbir and Sukhwinder's father Ravinder, told reporters outside the police station that the accused should not be granted bail.