Puri: An elderly couple was killed when a bus ran over a moped they were riding in Pipli area of Puri district Monday, triggering tension in the area as a mob torched three buses.
The mishap took place when the private bus from Puri to Bhubaneswar hit the moped while trying to overtake the two-wheeler, police said.
The death of the couple, identified as Hadu Khan (70) and Kuni Bibi (68) of nearby Dahangiria Jajpur village, led a mob to set the bus afire. Subsequently, two other private buses were also torched by the mob which demanded compensation to the family of the deceased, they said.
Police personnel in strength were deployed at the spot to prevent further trouble as a large number of local residents staged a road blockade. “The situation is tense, but under control,” said Additional Superintendent of Police Banbihari Sahu.
Eyewitnesses said some police personnel were also manhandled by the protesters, while some vehicles stopped on the highway connecting Bhubaneswar and Puri were also damaged. Vehicular movement between Puri and Bhubaneswar was disrupted for quite some time as officials held talks with the protesters to resolve the issue, police said. PTI
