Kolkata, May 7: Four women passengers died after a Sishu tree that was being felled by some youths fell on an autoricksaw at Chandpara near Gaighata in North 24-Parganas on Sunday. Police have arrested one person involved in cutting the tree and raids are on to nab the rest of the gang.
Around 2pm, the autoricksaw carrying five women was plying to Chandpara from Bongaon through Jessore Road. Some local youths were felling a large Sishu tree on the side of the road. Unfortunately, the tree fell on the vehicle when it was passing the spot. Locals rushed in to rescue the passengers and the auto driver who got trapped inside the smashed vehicle. Taking advantage of the situation, the four-member gang tried to escape the spot. However, the mob chased the gang and managed to get hold of one - Bhola Biswas - among those. While the rest three managed to escape, all anger fell on Biswas and he was severely beaten up by the enraged crowd.
Police officers from Gaighata police station hurried to the spot to control the situation. They also rescued Biswas from the mob and arrested him. The road remained blocked for about 30 minutes.
Two of the passengers Baisakhi Chatterjee (35) and Sima Majumder (38), residents of Bongaon Mandal para, died at the spot. Another two - Ashura Bibi (50) and Lakshmi Biswas - were rushed to a nearby hospital with serious wounds. Both of them later succumbed to their injuries. Two others - Tararani Bibi (35) and auto driver Buddhadeb Seal - are fighting for their lives in the hospital.
Bongaon SDPO Jayanta Mukherjee said police were looking for the others who were involved in felling the tree. "Biswas will be interrogated by the police to know more on the gang and their network," Mukherjee said. Locals complained that such incidents of chopping trees have become rampant on and around Jessore Road.
An organized group of miscreants is having a free run and chop fully grown tress at will, they complained.
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