Rourkela: An irate mob Sunday attacked police personnel leaving three of them injured and vandalised a police van after two persons including a school student were killed in a road accident at Saw Mill Chhak in Sector-21 here Saturday.
While five platoons of police force were deployed to bring the situation under control, Gopabandhupalli outpost officer Digbijayi Biswal sustained critical injuries in the stone pelting by the locals.
As per reports, four persons including a student were hit by a four-wheeler driven by a student of a local English medium school Saturday. While the student died on the spot three others were admitted to the Ispat General Hospital here in critical condition. Out of the three, a man succumbed to his injuries at the hospital Sunday.
The deceased were identified as Manish Kumar Prasad (17) of Nayabazar in Sector-21 and Pitabasha Padhi (56) of Basanti Colony.
After the news about the deaths spread, locals staged a road blockade at the spot. When police rushed to the spot to control the situation, the irate mob pelted stones at them and damaged their vehicle. In the process, three police personnel were injured and are undergoing treatment.
According to the protestors, the family of the deceased went to Plantsite police station to lodge a complaint but the officials misbehaved with them instead of receiving their FIR. Protesting the police inaction, people blocked the road demanding compensation to the bereaved families. They also sought measures to check speed of vehicles, seize vehicles driven by children and women without license and stern action against traffic violators.
However, the police resorted to baton charge on the protestors and some of them sustained injuries in the incident. Besides, police also took five youths of the area to the police station. This had angered the mob and some people attacked the police when the latter attempted to disperse the crowd. Instead of sympathising with the bereaved families, the police protected the car driver for some reason, locals alleged.
SP Umashankar Dash along with other officials rushed to the spot and brought things under control.
Death in road mishap is an unfortunate incident but people should not damage public properties and attack the police, taking the law into their hands, the SP said.
The driver has been detained and action would be taken in accordance with the law, he added. PNN
