3 police officers injured in scuffle with mob after two students die in accident

Three policemen including the Inspector-In-Charge (IC) of Salboni police station were injured in a clash that broke out the between a mob and the police following a road accident in which two school students died and many others were injured.

The accident took place at Salboni on National Highway 60 on Thursday morning when the auto rickshaw the students were travelling in was hit by a truck. Around 10 students were injured in the mishap. All the injured students were rushed to Midnapore Medical College and Hospital where two students died while the others were undergoing treatment at the hospital. Some of the injured students were stated to be in serious condition. The local people put up road block at Bhadutala to protest against the rash driving of vehicles on the National Highway.

The local people put up road block at Bhadutala to protest against the rash driving of vehicles on the National Highway.

The incident turned violent when a mob clashed with the police while they tried to lift the road block which created huge traffic jam in the area. The mob also ransacked some vehicles parked in the area. When the policemen tried to reason with the agitators, they became furious and attacked the policemen. The IC of the local police station and two other policemen received injuries during the clash. When the officer fell on the ground, the agitated mob punched and kicked him. Some other policemen who were at the spot were also overpowered by the mob. They failed protect the officer as they were also chased by the local people. After being informed, a huge contingent of police force rushed to the spot. Rapid Action Force was also deployed to bring the situation under control. A police picket was also set up in the area.

Police said that around 12 students from Bhadutala High School were going to school in an auto rickshaw. They boarded the auto from Keranichati area and were going to Bhadutala at around 10 am on Thursday. On their way to school, a speeding truck lost control and collided head on with the auto rickshaw. The driver of the auto rickshaw jumped off the running auto which eventually overturned and later caught fire. The local residents removed the injured students from the vehicle and rushed the victims to the hospital. In a separate accident, a pavement dweller was killed when a speeding bus mowed him down near Bankim Setu in Howrah. The bus also hit a pool car, an auto rickshaw and a taxi. Two school students who were travelling in the pool also received injuries. Altogether 5 persons who were in the taxi and the auto rickshaw also sustained injuries in the accident.

The bus also hit a pool car, an auto rickshaw and a taxi. Two school students who were travelling in the pool also received injuries. Altogether 5 persons who were in the taxi and the auto rickshaw also sustained injuries in the accident.