A tragic road accident on Thursday near Chelikhala Bazar claimed the life of Bishnu Lodh and critically injured his nephew Bijay Das, sparking outrage among locals who have long been troubled by the smuggling of sugar to Bangladesh.
The accident occurred when a speeding Bolero, allegedly transporting smuggled sugar, collided with the motorcycle driven by Lodh and Das. The impact was devastating, throwing both riders off their vehicle. Lodh tragically succumbed to his injuries on the spot, while Das was rushed to Bishalgarh Hospital. Doctors at Bishalgarh Hospital confirmed Lodh’s death and referred Das to GBP Hospital in Agartala for urgent medical attention.
Angered by the incident, local residents gathered at the accident site and promptly blocked the road. They demanded the immediate arrest of the Bolero’s driver responsible for the accident and called for an end to the illegal smuggling of sugar, which they blamed for such tragic incidents. Locals lamented that reckless driving by smugglers, driven by the urgency to evade authorities, was endangering lives and causing frequent accidents.
This incident comes shortly after another fatal accident on June 9, where Ramprasad Deb lost his life in a similar collision in Boxanagar. Community members expressed deep frustration over the recurring loss of lives due to illegal smuggling activities and stressed the urgent need for stricter enforcement measures to curb this illicit trade.
Police from Bishalgarh and Boxanagar have been deployed to the accident site and are actively investigating the matter. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the driver of the Bolero involved in the fatal collision, as local authorities seek to address both the immediate concerns of road safety and the broader issue of smuggling impacting the community.
