In a swift response, Bishalgarh police arrested five individuals on Friday in connection with the vandalism of two police vehicles in the Chelikhola area on Thursday night following a fatal accident. The arrested individuals are Rakesh Barman, Yusuf Nabi, Gopal Banik, Abhijit Barman, and Dipankar Barman. They were produced before the court and have been remanded to judicial custody until July 3.
The incident occurred when a bike rider died and his pillion rider sustained injuries after being hit by a speeding vehicle allegedly used by smugglers transporting sugar. The accident took place in the Chelikhola area under the jurisdiction of the Bishalgarh police station.
Following the accident, the situation quickly escalated as local villagers, protesting against the death and ongoing sugar smuggling, blocked the road and became violent, resulting in the vandalism of two police vehicles. SDPO Bishalgarh Panna Lal Sen, along with Officer-in-Charge Rana Chatterjee and an adequate police force, arrived at the scene and resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the agitated mob. The protestors retaliated by pelting stones, further escalating the tension.
Additional SP, Sepahijala Rajib Sutradhar, along with additional police forces, rushed to the scene, chased the mob, and eventually brought the situation under control. Local MLA Sushanta Deb later visited the site, calling for necessary actions to halt sugar smuggling and demanding stern action against those responsible for the vandalism and violence.
