Police 'inaction' leads to protest and vandalism in Malda

Kolkata: Police personnel of Mahanandatola outpost under Ratua police station in Malda were attacked by an angry mob on Monday night after officers allegedly denied to lodge a complaint in an accident case.

It is alleged that the police had to fire a few rounds in the air to bring the situation under control. However, the cops have denied the charges.

According to sources, on Sunday night, at Bilaimari village in Ratua, a man identified as Parimal Mondal was killed after a tractor ran him over. It was alleged that when Mondal's family members approached the police to lodge a complaint against the tractor driver but the officers did not register the complaint. It is also alleged that the police did not make any attempt to detain the accused driver.

There was some tension in the police station when the complaint was not lodged by the officers.

However, the police somehow managed to control the situation and sent the body for autopsy. On Monday afternoon, after the autopsy was conducted, Mondal's body reached his home.

Later, his family members along with other villagers went to Mahanandatola outpost and started agitation after placing the body on the road.

After a few hours of agitation, the police lodged a complaint and but at the same time they asked Mondal's family to resolve the matter with the driver amicably without the intervention of the police.

Hearing this, the mob went furious and gheraoed the police outpost.

Amidst the tension, all of a sudden, people from the mob started pelting stones at the police. Within a minute, the area turned almost into a battlefield. The mob vandalised the police outpost and cars. Also, the furious mob tried to set the outpost on fire.

Police force from Ratua police station arrived at the spot to bring the situation under control. Cops had to resort to lathi-charge. Some of the villagers alleged that the police fired multiple rounds. Later, a large contingent of police from other adjacent police stations arrived to control the situation. The police have denied the allegation that they resorted to firing.