Kolkata — In a tragic incident that has sparked outrage among residents, two individuals were arrested on Friday in connection with the death of a 15-year-old boy who was struck by an excavator in the Bansdroni area of south Kolkata. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning as the class 9 student was on his way to tuition classes, near the Dinesh Nagar auto stand. The accident led to immediate unrest in the community, with angry locals vandalizing the excavator involved in the incident after the driver fled the scene.
Bidisha Kalita, Deputy Commissioner of South Suburban Division, confirmed that the arrested individuals include the excavator's driver and its owner, the latter of whom allegedly aided the driver in evading arrest following the tragedy. A case has been registered under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), with a total of six First Information Reports (FIRs) filed regarding the incident. Kalita noted, "After the incident, there was a law and order situation in the area, and the police were harassed. Legal action will be taken for this as well.
Appropriate measures will follow after reviewing video footage." The boy’s death has drawn attention to the poor road conditions in the area, prompting local residents to stage protests. They criticized the police for their perceived slow response and argued that the dilapidated state of the roads contributed to the fatal accident. Protesters went so far as to label the incident a “state-sponsored murder,” calling for accountability from local authorities.
Councillor Anita Kar Majumder of Kolkata Municipal Corporation Ward 113 stated that road repairs were already underway as part of an ongoing underground drainage project, aiming to address the deteriorating infrastructure. Tensions escalated further when an altercation broke out between police and residents, who had encircled senior officials demanding immediate action. Reports emerged alleging that members of the ruling Trinamool Congress party assaulted protesters, leading to heightened clashes. In one instance, a police officer reportedly pushed a woman, causing her to fall and lose consciousness.
As the community mourns the loss of a young life, the incident raises critical questions about road safety and the responsiveness of authorities in protecting citizens from preventable accidents. The investigation continues, and further legal actions are anticipated as both the police and the community seek justice.
