A Haryana Police constable was killed and an Exempted Sub-Inspector (ESI) was critically injured after a speeding truck rammed into a broken-down vehicle parked on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway near Goyla village in Nuh district in the early hours of Thursday.

The accident occurred while the CIA, Punhana team was taking action against a vehicle carrying cattle that had been seized during an anti-cattle smuggling operation. The police rescued 15 cows and arrested the accused, identified as Ranu Singh of Mandoli in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur Dehat district.

According to the police, the CIA team had intercepted the cattle-laden vehicle after receiving a tip-off. While it was being taken for further legal action, it developed a mechanical fault and was parked on the roadside of the KMP Expressway.

At around 4 am, police personnel were standing behind the vehicle when a speeding truck from the Manesar side crashed into it. Constable Girish (26) and ESI Mukesh Phogat (49) were hit and run over. Girish died on the spot, while Mukesh sustained critical injuries. Another policeman, Sahil, escaped without any injury.

Police teams from Mohammadpur Ahir, Dhulawat Traffic, CIA Tauru and other units reached the spot and launched a rescue operation soon after. Mukesh was admitted to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, where he remains in a critical condition. Girish’s body was sent for post-mortem. An FIR has been registered at the Mohammadpur Ahir police station.

“All aspects of the accident are being investigated. We have seized both the cattle vehicle and the truck involved in the collision. Further investigation is underway,” a Nuh police spokesperson said.

Girish was a native of Thantari village in Palwal district and had joined Haryana Police about three years ago. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. His death while on duty has cast a pall of gloom over the police force and his native village, the spokesperson added.