Ernakulam : The family has accused the police of the death of a young man due to a rope tied by the police on the road during traffic control as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kochi. Chippi, the sister of deceased Manoj Unni, told ETV Bharat that the police are saying that her brother was drunk to cover up the fall. A blood test conducted at the hospital did not detect the presence of alcohol.
The young man's family says that his brother has no habit of drinking and the allegation that he was drunk and driving is false. This is the first time the brother has been involved in an accident. The reason for the accident was that the police could not see the rope tied on the road. Chippy said that if the police had tied at least one ribbon on this rope, he would not have lost his brother.
The police who provide security to important persons should also consider the lives of common people. Chippy said that if the rope is tied across the road, anyone will be in danger. She said that the ribbon was tied on the rope after the locals protested and there was a lack of light at the place where the accident happened.
Meanwhile, the police denied the family's allegation. The police said that the traffic was stopped by tying a rope as part of security measures and this is a normal procedure. Kochi City Police Commissioner S Shyam Sundar said that Manoj did not stop despite the police officers assigned at the place showing their hands. The accident victim was speeding. He also clarified that it will be possible to say whether he was drunk only after getting the test results.
The City Police Commissioner also informed that the CCTV footage of the accident will be collected and examined. Meanwhile, the body of Manojin, who died in the accident, was shifted from a private hospital to the Ernakulam General Hospital. The post-mortem will be completed and the house will be given to the relatives.
Manoj Unni, a scooter rider from Vadutala, died after being entangled in a rope tied by the police on the road as part of the security preparations for the Prime Minister's visit to Kochi. Manoj was seriously injured as the rope got stuck around his neck and was taken to the hospital but he died during the treatment. The accident happened around 10 pm on Sunday.
Access to MG Road from other roads was restricted as part of safety precautions. As part of this, the entry from Brother Ayyappan Road to MG Road was blocked by a rope. Manoj, who was speeding on a two-wheeler, got entangled in this rope and fell on the road.
The police explained that Manoj Unni met with the accident when he continued without stopping despite showing his hand. The police took Manoj Unni to the hospital. But Manoj died at 1.30 am while undergoing treatment. There have been several accidents in the past involving cables on the road. But for the first time, an accident occurred when the rope tied by the police got stuck on the road and one person died.