Violence erupted in Behala in West Bengal's Kolkata after a seven-year-old child died in a truck accident on Friday morning. The child's father also suffered serious injuries and is undergoing treatment at SSKM Hospital. The truck driver was later held from Santragachi and the vehicle was impounded, a police officer told PTI.
The deceased, Souranil Sarkar, was a student of Class 2 at Barisha High School.
Agitated locals vandalised several local buses and a police vehicle and bike were set on fire, ABP Ananda reported. The locals also blocked the main road in Behala and pelted stones at the police, who used lathi charge to bring the situation under control. Cops also fired tear gas shells to disperse the mob.
A few policemen, including Kolkata Police Joint CP (Traffic) Rupesh Kumar, suffered injuries, PTI reported
Locals said the Class 2 student was going to school with his father around 6:30 am on a bicycle. A corporation truck hit the bicycle from the opposite side and crushed the head of the child, ABP Ananda reported. While the child died on the spot, the father was seriously injured and rushed to the hospital.
After the incident, the corporation truck was allowed to go by the police. This angered the locals who then went on a rampage.
READ | Man Arrested For Trying To Enter Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee's Kolkata House
Locals staged a massive protest at Behala chowrasta and raised complaints on traffic control. The locals made allegations of bribery and accused the police of inaction. The Diamond Harbor Road was blocked due to the incident, leading to a huge traffic jam.
A large police contingent has been deployed to bring the situation under control. RAF personnel in large numbers have also been deployed.
Fire tenders have been deployed to douse the flames from the burning vehicles.