Hyderabad cop says drunk drivers are ‘terrorists’

In the Kurnool bus tragedy, the Hyderabad police commissioner condemned drunk driving and termed it an act of “terror.”

The Kurnool bus tragedy that happened recently, claiming many lives as the bus caught fire, has been at the top of headlines. The Hyderabad police commissioner, VC Sajjanar, launched a scathing condemnation of drunk driving, terming it as an act of “terror.”

Hyderabad police commissioner said that drunk drivers are ‘terrorists.’

A private sleeper bus travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru caught fire and claimed the lives of at least 19 people. The fire took place after the bus collided with a fallen motorbike on National Highway 44 (NH-44) near Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool in the early hours of Friday. The investigations have now revealed that the accident took place after a biker, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, lost control and died on the spot, leaving his motorbike lying on the highway. This tragedy sparked anger among the locals and investigators alike. Hyderabad police commissioner, VC Sajjanar, launched a harsh condemnation of drunk driving, terming it as an act of “terror.”

What did the Hyderabad police commissioner say on the matter?

Taking to X, Sajjanar wrote, “Drunk drivers are terrorists. Period. Drunk drivers are terrorists, and their actions are nothing short of acts of terror on our roads. The horrific Kurnool bus accident, which claimed the lives of 20 innocent people, was not an accident in the truest sense. It was a preventable massacre, caused by the reckless and irresponsible behaviour of an intoxicated biker.” He called the incident “a criminal act of negligence that annihilated entire families,” and added, “I stand firmly by my statement that DRUNK DRIVERS ARE TERRORISTS in every sense. They destroy lives, families, and futures. Such acts will never be tolerated.”

He reiterated his department’s stance on road safety and said that Hyderabad police will show “no mercy” to anyone found driving under the influence. He said, “Every single person caught driving under the influence will face the full force of the law. There will be no leniency, no exceptions, and no mercy for those who endanger innocent lives. It’s time we, as a society, stop calling drunk driving a mistake. It is a crime that shatters lives and must be punished accordingly.”