Bus jumps Chingrighata red light killing 2 students; driver arrested

Kolkata: Chingrighata on the EM Bypass turned into a battle zone on Saturday after two college students were run over by a speeding private bus that had allegedly jumped the red signal. The locals went berserk after the incident and went on the rampage, setting as many as four buses on fire and pelting stones at the police. The two dead students have been identified as Biswajit Bhuiyan and Sanjay Banu who were apparently crossing the road to go to a shop to buy some sweets.

Alleging lack of proper vigil at the accident-prone spot, locals poured onto the arterial road, and rained stones on the cops who came to control them. They also tried to ransack the vehicle of the OC of Beliaghata Traffic Guard and the office of the traffic guard. The police resorted to lathicharge in an effort to push back the agitating mob that enraged the crowd further

The cops were left helpless as protesters set fire four buses, vandalised glasses of some private cars and even attacked a fire tender that came to the spot to douse the flames in the buses. Police sources informed that the killer vehicle was heading towards Salt Lake jumped the red signal and mowed down two students at 11.15 am in the morning.

At least three hours after the incident, with the situation spinning out of control, the police started a "push back" of the angry crowds into the Shantinagar 'bustee' adjacent to the Bypass. But as stone pelting continued, police fired teargas shells. Several police personnel were reportedly injured in the brick-batting from rooftops and from the roads.

The road, which connects the IT sector of Salt Lake with the city, was closed to traffic for hours. The situation turned normal around 2:30 pm and a flank of the EM Bypass was opened to traffic. Local MLA Sujit Bose rushed to the spot. "It was an unfortunate accident but I urge people to remain calm. I have spoken to the locals. They want a subway to cross the busy road," he said adding that the government will extend all possible help to the family of the deceased.

A distraught mother of Bhuiya, a first year student of Bangabasi College said that his son had left home around 10:30 am to buy sweets. "The police are responsible for my son's death. They never control traffic properly at this point," she alleged. Her husband runs a cycle repairing shop.

Locals claimed Saturday's accident happened due to lack of vigil by the traffic police near the site. "The Beliaghata traffic guard stands only a few feet away from the accident site. Policemen had promised to maintain proper vigil in the area to avoid accidents but this happens only during school hours." said Ramen Das, a local resident of the adjacent Shantipalli slum where both the victims lived.

A large police force from Lalbazar, police headquarters and Bidhannagar Commissionerate have been deployed at the affected area. The bus driver who had fled from the spot was arrested by Bidhannagar South Police station in the afternoon and his license was cancelled.

The state government has announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the family members of the two college students who were killed in the accident.