The arrested 28 being produced in court in Durgapur. Picture by Rana Ghosh

Durgapur, Sept. 16: Police have arrested 28 people after yesterday’s arson in Durgapur, where a mob torched 16 trucks after one of the vehicles ran over a motorcycle rider.

The arrests were made from the villages of Angadpur, Arjunpur and Raturia — all adjoining the Durgapur — in a night-long raid hours after the mayhem, possibly the biggest street arson in Bengal triggered by a single accident.

Those rounded up were produced in the Durgapur additional chief judicial magistrate’s court today and have been sent to judicial custody till September 27.

Throughout the day, youths were seen camping in small groups on the Raturia-Angadpur Road, where the trucks were burnt following 38-year-old Partha Burman’s death. The youths did not allow a single vehicle to ply on the road.

The driver of the lorry that ran over Burman is yet to be arrested.

Most of those who rioted on the Raturia-Angadpur Road yesterday were supporters of CPM youth wing DYFI, which was holding a rally half a kilometre from the spot.

Although policemen were today posted near the spot, they preferred not to act against the youths who blocked the road.

“We shall not allow any vehicles to ply unless police arrest the actual culprits involved in yesterday’s street arson. A majority of those picked up are innocent,” said Bibhas Ruidas, a resident of Angadpur.

But D.S. Rudra, the additional superintendent of police, Durgapur, said he was not aware of vehicles not being allowed to ply. “It might be that vehicle owners were not coming out on the road fearing fresh assault,” he said.

The Durgapur Truck Owners’ Association also decided against running their vehicles. “After yesterday’s incident, we are scared. We can’t imagine how people could torch our vehicles one after another because one lorry ran over a biker,” said association president Bhola Yadav.

The owners of the 16 trucks lost Rs 60-70 lakh yesterday, he added.