The City Diary

Blockade in wake of fatal road mishap

Traffic on Budge Budge Trunk Road, at Mahestala, on the southern fringes of the city, was disrupted for an hour on Tuesday after the death of a local trader in a mishap near Bata More. Residents blocked the road demanding a traffic guard on the spot. The demonstrators refused to release the body, and the police had a tough time clearing the road for commuters. After much persuasion by senior officers, the body was handed over and the blockade lifted. The mishap occurred around 11 am. Victim Pritam Srivastav, 26, was on his motorcycle when a dumper hit him from behind. Witnesses said Srivastav died on the spot. Local police, called in immediately, took more than half-an-hour to travel a distance of 10 minutes, local residents alleged.

Police nod for Marga rally

For the first time since the massacre of the Ananda Margis on Bijon Setu in 1982 the commissioner of police has allowed the Pracharak Samity to hold a rally on April 30 to mourn the death of 17 Margis without any court order. The police chief, however, made it clear that no skull dance or display of weapons would be allowed during the rally.

Killed in accidents

Two men were killed in separate accidents in Habra, on the northern fringes of the city, on Tuesday. Ganesh Chowdhury, 65, was run over by a private bus near the post office. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. In another incident, Sunil Mondal, 59, was run over by a speeding truck while he was on his way on a bicycle. Police seized both vehicles but the driver fled.

Food-poisoning

Nearly 70 persons fell sick in Mograhat, South 24-Parganas, after eating adulterated food. They were admitted to a local hospital but most of them were discharged later. Director of health services Prabhakar Chatterjee said on Tuesday that a three-member team had been sent to the village.

Arrest for theft

Two persons were arrested in front of Race Course Ground in the Hastings area on Tuesday for snatching a gold chain from Kamala Das, a resident of Alipore. After interrogating pavement-dwellers, the duo was picked up and the chain was recovered from them.

Life term

The magistrate of a fast track court in Barasat, Siddartha Chatterjee, on Tuesday sentenced Qaiser Ali alias Dukhua to life imprisonment. Ali was arrested in connection with the murder of an iron merchant, Khokon Ghosh, at Dakshindari under the Lake Town police station in last April. The police had arrested him in September and had started the investigation. Police said Ali had murdered the businessman after he refused to pay him Rs 50,000. Ali is involved in 14 other criminal cases.

Thumbs Up

TO Shibmandir Seba Pratisthan for running a 24-hour ambulance service