Patna, Oct. 22: A 16-year-old girl student was knocked down by a speeding tractor at Biharsharif in Nalanda district today, triggering a violent protest by students of the institute and residents, who roughed up two police personnel on duty and set a motorcycle on fire.
The police said a speeding tractor hit Baijanti, a resident of Karunabagh locality of Biharsharif town, near Bhaisasur Chowk, when she was returning home after attending classes at a private coaching institute.
The injured girl, preparing for Teachers Eligibility Test, was rushed to Sadar hospital at Biharsharif from where she was later referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) for treatment. Baijanti, however, succumbed to her injuries at the PMCH.
When the students of the coaching institute got to know about the death of their classmate, they blocked the road and disrupted traffic near Hospital Chowk around 10am. The mob went berserk when the police tried to remove the blockade and restore traffic on the busy road.
The mob thrashed Ashok Mahto, a traffic police personnel on duty. When Krishna Prasad, a sub-inspector attached with the traffic control room, tried to rescue his colleague, he too fell victim to the mob fury. His motorcycle was set on fire. The cops, however, decided to leave the spot.
On getting information, deputy superintendent of po- lice (DSP) (headquarters) M. Ahmad reached the spot with additional reinforcements. An anti-riot vehicle, Vajra, was pressed into service to contain the situation. The protesters forced the shops in the nearby market to down shutters.
Ahmad told The Telegraph over phone that the police have seized the tractor, which hit the girl. However, the driver managed to escape. “We are trying to ascertain the identity of the owner of the vehicle and the driver, whose negligence led to the death of the girl,” he said.
The DSP claimed that the situation in the town was under control. “Normal traffic has been restored,” he said, adding that two separate cases have been lodged in connection with the incident.
