Locals block road after minor boy gets run over

Tension ran high at Kultali in South 24 Parganas after a minor boy was killed in road accident.

The local people staged demonstration on the road alleging that the accident had taken place as the construction materials were dumped on the side of the road. 

Local residents said that the victim, Gourhari Haldar took some money from his family members and was going to buy kites from a nearby area. When he was walking along the road, a trekker on its way to Jamtala area from Joynagar lost control and hit the boy. The driver fled along with the vehicle after the accident. 

Eyewitnesses said that after seeing the vehicle coming at a top speed, the victim moved towards a pile of stone chips at the side of the road.

The vehicle lost control and mowed the boy down. The local residents rushed the boy to Kultali Block Hospital where he was declared brought dead. The local people cut down a tree on the road and put up a block protesting against the illegal dumping of construction material on the road. They alleged that these materials were often put by the side of the road at a stretch from Kholakhali to Jamtala and as a result of this, accidents often taken place in the area. 

It is alleged that in recent time, four people have been killed in accidents at Kholakhali area. Despite the repeated pleas, the police did not take any action to stop this illegal dumping of construction materials on road. They also alleged that police extort money from the businessmen involved in building material supply. 

The agitation continued for hours and as a result, there was a huge traffic jam on the road. When the police reached the spot the protestors gheraoed the policemen and demanded an explanation as to why they do not take any action against people who pile these materials on road. The blockade was lifted after the police assured them that action would be taken against those who will dump construction materials on road and arrest the accused driver.