Bengal mob demanding compensation for accident victims ransack police post

A mob on Wednesday ransacked the police outpost in the outskirts of Kolkata and torched the furniture and a motorcycle within its premises, as violence contined two days of a massive car accident that killed four school children and an adult.

The mob in Rasapunja village went on a rampage demanding financial compensation for the families of the deceased and free treatment for those injured in the accident.

"Two days have passed since the accident but no one from the government has come to the spot or empathised with the family of the bereaved. The government should immediately announce a compensation package for the family of the deceased and treat the injured people for free at government facilities," a protester said.

The villagers also accused the local police of attacking them on Tuesday night and beating up innocent people. Even the women and handicapped were not spared, they said.

"Police abused me and pushed me to ground in front of my house. They hurled bricks at the roof of our house that broke the tiles," said a handicapped person, who alleged he was beaten by police.

"Police fired rubber bullets and thrown tear gas shells to drive us away from the streets. They were threatening everyone to stay indoors. Even the women were beaten up," another protester said.

Police, however, denied all allegations and said they have arrested the main accused in the car accident Sirajul Mollah alias Kallu, who was driving the SUV during the accident.

"We have arrested Kallu, the main accused in the accident. We have slapped charges of murder, rash driving and also for causing grievous hurt by act endangering life. Police are doing their best to maintain law and order," said Debasish Chattaraj, inspector of Bishnupur police station.

Four school children and one of their guardian was crushed under the wheels of a speeding SUV-car on Monday after getting hit on the Bakrahat road in Kolkata's Bishnupur. A large number of angry locals agitated by blocking the road and hurled bricks at the police injuring some of them.

--IANS

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