RAJAHMUNDRY: A 28-year-old woman pursuing postgraduation in medicine has been declared brain dead after a car driven recklessly by two intoxicated youths rammed into the scooty on which she and a fellow medical student were travelling near a shopping mall in Rajahmundry on Aug 3.Prakash Nagar police have arrested the two accused, identified as Suravarapu Daswanth and his friend Andrew Joseph Edwards. Initially, a case was registered under section 338 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for causing grievous hurt by a rash or negligent act. Based on the course of investigation, police later invoked Section 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide not amounting to murder).According to Prakash Nagar inspector Sheik Bajee Lal, the accused had gone to a mall to watch a movie while allegedly under the influence of alcohol. Theatre staff denied them entry after noticing their intoxicated condition. The duo reportedly argued with the staff and behaved aggressively before leaving the premises.Police said the accused then drove out of the mall’s cellar parking in a rash manner. The two medical postgraduate students of GSL Medical College in Rajahmundry were riding out of the mall on a scooty at the same time, and the accused rammed the car into them.Investigators said the vehicle struck the two-wheeler multiple times, throwing the woman, identified as Dr Priyanka, on the road and leaving her with critical injuries. She was shifted to a nearby hospital and placed on ventilator support, where doctors later declared her brain dead.Her friend, who was riding the scooty, sustained minor injuries and is reported to be in stable condition.Police have also registered a separate case against the accused for allegedly misbehaving with theatre staff before the incident.Rajahmundry MP Daggubati Purandeswari expressed shock over the incident. In a statement issued from New Delhi where she is attending the ongoing Parliament session, the MP said she was deeply distressed by the incident and described the loss of a promising young doctor’s future as a tragedy. She termed the alleged act “inhuman” and said such violence was a blot on the society. Purandeswari conveyed her condolences to the victim’s family and assured them of full support. She also called for stringent legal action against the accused to ensure they are brought to justice.
