Ludhiana: A quiet Sunday morning in Preet Nagar turned into a scene of chaos as a man in a stolen vehicle led a high-speed rampage through congested streets, crushing a motorcyclist and narrowly missing families standing outside their homes.The incident began when the suspect, identified by police as 35-year-old Love, reportedly became embroiled in an argument with local residents. According to witnesses and authorities, Love attempted to flee the confrontation in a white primium hatchback, accelerating recklessly through the narrow residential corridors.Local CCTV footage captured the vehicle as it struck multiple parked cars and a utility pole. In a desperate attempt to escape, the driver reversed and advanced several times, eventually pinning a motorcyclist beneath the car. The unidentified victim was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.Conflicting Reports of the ChaseWhile residents initially claimed that police were chasing the vehicle prior to the carnage, Inspector Gurmukh Singh, station house officer (SHO) of Shimlapuri, clarified the timeline of events. “A PCR team was on patrol in the vicinity,” thr inspector said. “The police only intervened to stop the vehicle after the suspect began striking other cars. He was not being chased by officers beforehand.”Residents described a harrowing scene of near-misses. One local man reported that he was standing with his mother and 10-year-old nephew when the car smashed into flowerpots just inches from where they stood.Arrest and ChargesThe suspect, also a resident of Preet Nagar, was eventually cornered by the congestion of the street. Local residents intercepted the vehicle, apprehended the driver, and reportedly assaulted him before handing him over to arriving officers. Police investigations have since revealed that the car used in the rampage had been stolen three days prior. Love now faces two separate first-information reports (FIRs), one for the theft of the motor vehicle, while another for the destruction of property and causing grievous bodily harm through dangerous driving. Police are trying to identify the injured motorcyclist and assess the total value of the property damage.
