National highway hit-and-run BJP leader surrenders to officials

Drunk and drive is a serious offense that has a fine of at least Rs. 3000. Besides, you are not the only person on the road.

BJP leader Manoj Baitha, who was on the run allegedly after running over nine school students while they were crossing a road at Dharampur under the Minapur police station limits in Muzaffarpur district on February 24, surrendered before the police early on Wednesday.

Mr. Baitha has been shifted to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) for treatment of his injuries sustained in the accident.

Assistant Superintendent of Police, Muzaffarpur Gaurav Pandey has confirmed Mr. Baitha’s surrender.

Earlier, there were rumors that Mr. Baitha had surrendered before the Sitamarhi court on February 27.

The CCTV footage showed that Mr. Baitha was driving the SUV which mowed down the school children when they were crossing the National Highway 77.

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He was allegedly drunk at the time of the accident and was absconding since then.

The Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders and Congress president Rahul Gandhi questioned the ruling NDA government in the State over the incident.

Bihar was declared as a dry State in April 2016.

“What kind of prohibition is this in your State Nitishji… when nine school children were crushed to death by a drunk driver?” Mr. Gandhi had tweeted.

The RJD leaders also took on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the State BJP leader over the delay in arresting Mr. Baitha even four days after the accident.

However, senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi had said that Mr. Baitha would be arrested soon and “it doesn’t matter which party he belongs to”.

Later, Mr. Baitha, a Dalit cell leader from the Sitamarhi district, was suspended from the party.