Attempt to murder charge invoked in Gurugram hit-and-run case amid outrage

Gurugram Police has added the attempt to murder section to the FIR in the case of the hit-and-run of a woman biker. The addition comes after Sia, the survivor, and her family questioned police inaction in the matter, alleging that despite video proof of the incident, an attempt to murder charge was not added to the FIR.

Sia's father and brother, along with other family members, approached police and appealed for the addition of sections to the FIR.

Senior police officer Sandeep Malik told India Today that the viral video clearly shows that the driver, Kalyan Bainsla, "intentionally" hit the biker and attempted to kill her.

Furthermore, Bainsla has now been arrested after being on the run. He was arrested from Rajasthan's Dausa.

Speaking to reporters, Sia slammed the Gurugram Police, saying that law and order is not in place in the city. She claimed that traffic police are normally quick to penalise bikers but far too lenient when it comes to four-wheeler drivers.

"What about those who die on the spot? Isn't their life valuable to you? Does the law and order machinery only wake up after a biker gets hit and killed? If you impose so many restrictions on bikers in Gurgaon, you should also look at those driving four-wheelers. What are you doing about people driving so rashly?" She added.

She also said that the primary purpose behind posting the video on social media is to instil fear in people, who think that they can get away with such acts.

Earlier, Bainsla claimed that the biker was changing speed at frequent intervals and pinching (the act of riding too close or cutting the path of nearby vehicles). He also claimed that he had no idea the biker was a woman and he, in fact, was concerned for her. However, Sia rejected the allegations in her first statement via an Instagram video.

She reiterated the same, saying that she has "no desire to harass or cut off any vehicle driver" because she has been riding for a year. "The whole country has seen the video showing exactly what happened, and obviously, the driver is at fault. It’s a hit-and-run case; the video shows an intentional hit, amounting to attempted murder," Sia told reporters.

Speaking to India Today TV, Sia claimed that there was another person beside Bainsla in the car. "One of them was saying something, but I was wearing a helmet, so I couldn't hear it. He was also making hand gestures. The person in front of me asked them to move aside, but they refused. They then turned their vehicle around and tried to chase me. This frightened me, and I tried to move away."

She also said that she was feeling very scared of riding a bike on Gurugram roads after the incident. She added that even if she rides, she will be scared of going out alone.