Guwahati, Nov. 20: A mob went on the rampage, attacking policemen and setting ablaze a water tanker on GS Road at Bhangagarh here today after the vehicle knocked down a scooter, killing the rider this morning.

The tanker, which was going from Uzan Bazar to Rajgarh, hit a stationary scooter near Bhagagarh flyover killing Bidyut Chamua, 34, who was sitting on his two-wheeler.

The tanker also hit a pedestrian, Gayetree Nath, who sustained minor injuries.

Both Chamua and Nath were rushed to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital where doctors declared Chamua dead on arrival.

"Chamua was already dead when he was brought to the hospital. Nath suffered minor injuries and she was discharged late in the afternoon," GMCH superintendent B. Bezbaruah told The Telegraph.

According to eyewitnesses, a crowd, which gathered at the spot following the accident, went on a rampage.

"When the accident happened, some students of Apollo Mediskill Institute, located near the accident site, along with some others, set the tanker on fire," said Prabin Lahkar, a vendor.

When police arrived at the spot, the mob hurled stones at them.

"Two policemen were injured in the incident and shifted to GMCH," said Rukma Buragohain, officer-in-charge of Paltan Bazar police station.

The crowd also prevented firemen from dousing the flames.

Amitava Sinha, deputy commissioner of police (Central) said, "We have arrested six persons - Ganesh Nath, Mahendra Boro, Dhiraj Nath, Biren Kalita, Manindra Saloi and Manindra Nath - for arson. The tanker driver, Naren Kumar, was also arrested. Ganesh is a vendor while the rest are all students of Apollo Mediskill Institute."

Kumar hails from Bhebarigaon in Baksa district.

In another accident on National Highway 37 at Sonapur on the outskirts here in the wee hours today, two persons died and 20 were injured.

A Guwahati-bound passenger bus coming from Itanagar hit two stationary trucks near St Patrick High School at Nazirakhat in Sonapur area and fell on its side. The driver and handyman of one of the trucks, identified as Bharat Rahang and Rajeeb Rongpee, who were standing between the vehicles, died. Twenty people, including some bus passengers and labourers, were injured in the mishap. Ten of them are said to be in critical condition. All the injured have been admitted to GMCH.

According to eyewitnesses, the accident was caused by low visibility because of thick fog.

Additional reporting by Prameshwar Puri in Jorabat