15 Chhath Puja devotees injured in bike mishap

Kolkata: As many as 15 Chhath Puja devotees were injured, some of them critically, after being hit by two speeding motorcycles while returning home after performing their rituals along National Highway 60 near Jamuria in West Burdwan early Wednesday morning. The locals managed to get hold of one of the bikers and beat him up before he was handed over to the police.

One bike was damaged by the irate mob. Some of the locals staged a demonstration on National Highway 60 following the incident to protest against the rash driving of the vehicles. A contingent of police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

They resorted to mild lathi charge to disperse the mob.

The incidents took place at around 6 am on Wednesday. Police said the devotees were walking along the road when two bikes hit them one after the other. Eyewitnesses told police three youths were riding on each motorcycle when the incident happened. Five youths managed to flee from the spot while one youth was caught by the locals and a bike was also intercepted.

All the injured victims were rushed to a hospital in Jamuria's Bahadurpur area. Some of the injured persons were later shifted to the district hospital as their condition deteriorated. An irate mob ransacked the bike in front of the police officers. The locals alleged that dumpers and bikes ply through the area at high speed resulting in accidents. They also claimed that two persons were killed in four road accidents in the last month in the area. The matter was reported to the police and they were urged to take action against the vehicles that flout traffic norms. Police are conducting raids to nab the other youths who have fled.