Karnataka: Reckless rider who did stunts with girl riding pillion arrested

BENGALURU: Two days after a video of a youngster performing death-defying stunts on a scooter — endangering himself, a girl riding pillion on the bike and other road users — went viral, a special police team on Monday tracked down and arrested the 21-year-old hothead.
For most part of the video, which sent police on a frantic search to apprehend him, Noor Ahmed, a resident of Yelahanka and BCom student at Yelahanka Government First Grade College, is bereft of any protective headgear.He uses his right leg to precariously perch on the seat while doing a wheelie at speeds of up to 80kmph on Devanahalli-Nandi Hill Road. His female companion, who is also not wearing a helmet, dangerously holds onto his right leg to prevent from falling backwards as trucks and other heavy vehicles whiz past.
After Monday’s arrest, police learned to their consternation that Noor Ahmed, the son of an autorickshaw driver, could not afford a two-wheeler — he learned how to perform hazardous stunts by borrowing scooters from friends.
DCP (traffic-north) Sarah Fatima said police would question Noor Ahmed and produce him before a magistrate on Tuesday morning.
A police officer said Noor Ahmed would take his friend Imran Khan’s scooter to Devanahalli-Nandi Hill Road to perform wheelies.
“For close to 10 months, he would go with friends on weekends and train to do wheelies with them for up to three hours each day. Sometimes they would train on weekdays too,” the officer said. “He hooked up with other ‘stunt riders’ and practiced till he believed that he was an ‘expert’.”
Questioned about the girl in the video, Noor Ahmed told police that he did not know her well. “He said he only knew that her name was Veda,” the officer said. “Noor Ahmed said that the girl was impressed by his skills and, on the day they filmed the stunt, she came up to him and volunteered to be part of the shoot.”
Noor Ahmed told police that he believed Veda or one of her friends posted the video on social media.
The Hebbal traffic police said they traced the scooter through its registration number from the video. “We caught hold of Imran Khan and he led us to Noor Ahmed,” the officer said.