A CRPF jawan and his pregnant wife were killed and six others were injured when a police jeep rammed into a couple of motorcycles and a bicycle in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district on Sunday.
Three police personnel were travelling in the jeep from Odlabari to Malbazar when the driver lost control of the vehicle on National Highway 31, Press Trust of India reported. On losing control, the jeep first hit a motorcycle on which CRPF jawan Shambhu Tirkey and his wife Leena Lakra were travelling.
The jeep then hit a motorcycle and a bicycle injuring six others.
Shambhu, a resident of Jalpaiguri's Lislever tea garden area, died on the spot, while his wife succumbed to injuries on the way to Malbazar Hospital. Shambhu and Leena had gone for a medical check-up and were returning home when the accident took place.
Four of the six injured have been identified as Nisha Kheria, Tanjul Islam, Ketla Munda, Rajesh Busphor.
Residents in the area blocked the national highway following the accident and also pelted stones at passing vehicles besides torching the police jeep. They accused the driver, who fled the spot, of being in an inebriated state.
"The driver fled the spot after the incident. The three police personnel in the jeep have also sustained minor injuries. A large police contingent has been sent to the area to keep the situation under control and lift the road blockade. Investigations are on to ascertain the reason behind the incident and trace the driver," a police officer told the news agency.
Two police personnel were injured when the mob pelted stones at the contingent. "Five rounds of tear gas shells had to be lobbed to control the unruly mob. We have arrested one of the agitators. The security personnel are camping there to keep the situation under control," the officer added.
