Woman killed after being hit by rogue taxi driven by drunk miscreants

In a tragic incident, a 40-year-old woman was killed and four others were injured after being hit by a taxi that was being driven by two youth who robbed its driver at gun point.

The incident took place at Agarpara in North 24-Parganas on Monday night when the women were returning after immersion of goddesses Kali’s idol.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the youth had a plan to steal the taxi by throwing the driver out of it after reaching a deserted place.

Police said the youth — Bittu Akbar and Md Osman — boarded the taxi near BK Paul Avenue in north Kolkata. They told the driver Ram Kumar Shaw that they had to go to Dunlop.

The situation took a bad turn when they reached near Dunlop. The youth, who were in an inebriated state, threatened the driver at gun point and forced him to handover the vehicle to them. 

Fearing that they may kill him, Shaw allowed them to drive the taxi. The duo was initially sitting on the rear seat. But, they came to the front when Shaw stopped the vehicle after crossing Dunlop More.

As per the taxi’s driver statement to the police, Bittu was driving the vehicle and they headed towards Barrackpore with Shaw sitting on the rear seat at gun point. They had threatened to kill him if he shouted to attract attention of any passerby. They had also snatched his mobile phone.

Bittu was driving the car at top speed. The driver had asked him not to drive so recklessly but he didn’t pay heed to his request.

A police officer said that Shaw told them that the duo was restless as if they had to reach a place within a particular point of time. They were passing lewd comments at the passers-by wherever they found a bit of gathering. It led to trouble at Agarpara where the victims were returning after immersing idols of goddesses Kali.

The victim and other women from the same locality protested against their misbehaviour. The local people asked the youth to come out of the taxi and it made the task difficult for them. Realising that they would get caught on charges of robbing the taxi driver at gun point, Bittu ran the car over the women.

Sila Das received severe injuries all over her body while four others were injured. Local people intercepted the taxi and informed the police.

Policemen rushed to the spot and arrested Bittu, Osman and the driver as well. The police had arrested the driver considering him as one of the associates in the crime. The reason being he initially kept silent as he was being threatened by the youth. Later, on Tuesday evening, he finally revealed that the youth had robbed him and they had plans to steal the car.

When a section of people were busy handing over the accused to the police, some local people took Sila to The College of Medicine & Sagore Dutta Hospital at Kamarhati. She was later shifted to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital where she was succumbed to her injuries.

Police initiated two cases against the youth based on the complaint lodged by the victim’s family members and the taxi’s driver. Shaw lodged complaint alleging that the duo had robbed him and attempted to steal his taxi.