A child was seriously injured after being knocked down by a speeding autorickshaw in Barasat on Sunday morning, the accident prompting residents to stop three-wheelers carrying more than four passengers in violation of rules.

The residents also blocked Jessore Road in Sethpukur for half an hour from 10am, demanding action against errant auto drivers.

Autos are barred from ferrying more than four passengers, a rule recently reiterated by transport minister Madan Mitra after four-year-old Adrika Ghosal fell off a speeding three-wheeler and was dragged along as the driver refused to stop on the Sinthee-Kuthighat route.

The Sunday accident occurred around 9.30am when four-year-old Rajkishore Das, a resident of Indira Colony in Barasat, was returning home from an ashram. “Rajkishore (in picture by Bhabatosh Chakraborty) had gone to the ashram with his elder brother and 15 other boys,” said a police officer.

“The auto from Madhyamgram was rushing down Jessore Road towards Champadali More and carrying six commuters. It hit the child while he was crossing the road.”

Rajkishore suffered head and leg injuries and was taken to Barasat district hospital, from where he was shifted to RG Kar hospital. The auto driver fled.

Around 150 residents blocked the road and stopped autos ferrying five or more passengers.

“Autos on the Madhyamgram-Barasat route are a menace. They always ferry more than four passengers and are driven recklessly,” said Rajkishore’s father Sripati.

Leaders of the Trinamul- backed auto union, however, said the minister’s diktat of carrying up to four passengers was being complied with since last Monday. “The fares on the route will be hiked from Monday because of the order,” said union head Subhas Mitra.