Truck driver Lalu Prasad, 26, succumbed to a fatal gunshot wound after being attacked during a shocking road rage incident in Noida’s Sector 63. The young truck driver had been fighting for his life in the ICU for nine days following the April 18 shooting, but he tragically passed away early Sunday morning, police confirmed.
The fatal altercation began when the truck driver, Lalu, honked at a Toyota Fortuner SUV blocking the road while on his way to load snacks at a factory. According to eyewitness Surjeet, who was driving another truck behind Lalu, the honking enraged the SUV driver, identified as Vikas Kumar, 47, a milk businessman from Jaipur. In a fit of rage, Kumar verbally abused the truck driver and later fired a shot that struck Lalu in the temple.
Lalu, described as the sole breadwinner of his family, leaves behind his grieving mother, wife, and a 4-year-old son. Surjeet expressed deep sorrow, stating that doctors had already warned about the slim chances of recovery, but the family still held out hope until the end.
Following the incident, Noida police swiftly arrested prime suspect Vikas Kumar and his associate Lalit Kumar, 42, who were both allegedly intoxicated at the time. Initial charges were filed under sections related to attempted murder and criminal intimidation, but police have now upgraded the charges to murder following Lalu’s death.
Investigations revealed that the two suspects had been drinking in Ghaziabad before heading to Noida. After parking near a restaurant in Sector 63, they encountered the truck driver. When Lalu honked multiple times to ask them to move, an argument erupted, culminating in the fatal shooting.
During interrogation, Vikas Kumar claimed he only intended to fire into the air but inadvertently hit the truck driver. Police, however, are treating the incident as a deliberate act of violence given the nature of the confrontation and the evidence gathered.
The case has sparked outrage among the trucking community and locals, who are demanding strict punishment for the accused. Many are highlighting the risks that truck drivers face daily while working long hours under stressful conditions.
Authorities assured that they are working diligently to ensure justice for Lalu Prasad and his bereaved family. The investigation remains ongoing, and the suspects are currently in custody awaiting further legal proceedings.
