Cyclist killed in North Dinajpur bus accident, cop injured in mob attack
Cyclist killed in North Dinajpur bus accident, cop injured in mob attack
North Dinajpur: A cyclist was killed and a police officer injured in a bus accident and subsequent mob attack in North Dinajpur on Thursday night.
The accident took place at Rahatpur on NH12 when a North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) bus heading towards Siliguri hit a cyclist. The cyclist, Mohammad Alam, a 24-year-old resident of Bihar, died on the spot.
Local people became agitated and started a demonstration. The bus, meanwhile, managed to leave the area.
When Dalkhola police arrived to take away the body, the agitators shouted slogans and some of them attacked the law enforcers.
Some police personnel and civic volunteers left the spot quickly but the attackers could grab an assistant sub-inspector. They assaulted him and alleged that despite repeated reminders, no arrangements had been made by the district administration to install street lights in the area.
“It is an accident-prone zone and people lost their lives after being hit by speeding vehicles earlier. Time and again, we have demanded that lights be installed along the highway. But there has been no change in the situation,” said a resident.
A section of the local people intervened and tried to save the ASI from the attackers. They, too, were roughed up.
After some time, additional forces reached the spot and brought the situation under control. The ASI and a couple of others, who were injured while trying to save him, were sent to the nearby health centre for treatment.
Reinforcements reached the spot and brought the situation under control. The police also took away the body.
North Dinajpur map
North East Hotel Raiganj
Keotal
Locals are furious over the event and have urged that the district administration act right now to improve road safety in the region.
This is not the first time that such an incident has taken place in North Dinajpur. In recent years, there have been several accidents involving cyclists and buses in the district.
Although the district government claims to be improving road safety, many believe more needs to be done.
