KOLKATA: A film and television director, reportedly driving drunk, crashed into a crowded Thakurpukur area on Sunday morning, killing one person and critically injuring at least eight others.
Residents of the area erupted into fury, vandalised the car, dragged Siddhant Das (35), the man at the wheel, out and thrashed him till police arrived at the spot and rescued him.
Cops also took away a woman travelling with Das in his vehicle. Another woman, who was seated on the back seat, fled, said police, adding they arrested Das.
Aminur Rahman (63), who was selling vegetables at the market, suffered multiple injuries and fell unconscious. He was taken to a private hospital, where he died of his injuries.
Police said the incident occurred around 9 am on Sunday when Das, driving from Bakrahat and heading towards Gariahat, lost control of his black SUV and went straight into the bustling market in the Thakurpukur police station area. Police confirmed Das was drunk at the time of the accident and four bottles of liquor were found in his vehicle.
Witnesses said the vehicle ploughed through two-wheelers parked outside the market and hit several pedestrians before coming to a halt. “I was standing on the road outside the market as my uncle was selling his wares. Suddenly, I saw a black vehicle crashing into the market. The vehicle hit at least seven people, including a person on a scooter and two others on two bikes,” said Manzoor Rahman, Aminur’s nephew. “The vehicle finally came to a halt after ramming into another scooter.” Another witness alleged the woman seated in the front seat of the SUV kept urging the motorist not to stop but to drive away. However, police managed to take both this woman and the Das into custody as locals accosted them.
“The road is being repaired right now and so, it is now closed to traffic. Vehicles belonging to residents only are allowed here but even those negotiate the stretch very cautiously. The motorist on Sunday morning broke past the guard rails as he dashed into the barricaded stretch and drove recklessly, hitting one person after another,” said a senior police officer.
Residents of the area expressed anger over lack of vigilance, especially on a holiday. “Being a Sunday, the market was extremely crowded. The road leading to the market has been closed to traffic. But no police was deployed there in the morning,” said Biswajit Das, a resident of Thakurpukur.
While Rahman and another resident, Joydeb Majumdar (68), were admitted to CMRI Hospital, seven others were discharged after preliminary treatment at a private hospital. While Rahman died, Majumdar continued to battle for life.
