Kolar: Following Accident, Angry Mob Sets KSRTC Bus on Fire
Daijiworld Media Network
Kolar, Sep 3 (DHNS): A mob set a bus on fire and threw stones on policemen, after a KSRTC bus ran over a man riding pillion on a bike on MB Road near the new bus stand in the city on Thursday night.
The situation could be brought under control only by midnight.
Mishap
According to the police, the incident occurred around 9.30 pm when the bus coming from Thirupathi was entering the bus stand. A bike coming from Qutubgori Mohalla on M B Road skidded and two men riding the bike fell on the road. The pillion rider, Azim (31), a resident of Vijayapura, was crushed under the rear wheels of the bus.
Soon, a large crowd gathered at the spot. A police contingent led by Gulpet Sub Inspector Santosh Kumar and traffic police station Sub Inspector Chandrappa and other staff arrived to control the situation.
Police pelted
The mob of 400 to 500 people started pelting the policemen with stones and did not allow Azim’s body to be shifted. Even as the mob was raining stones on the policemen, a section of the mob set the bus on fire. They started throwing stones on the fire services vehicle also, forcing the fire personnel to retreat.
As many as 11 police personnel were injured and two of them who were seriously injured have been admitted to the R L Jalappa Hospital for treatment. Three police vehicles were damaged in the incident.
The glass window panes of the fire services vehicle were broken to smithereens. Police have arrested two people in connection with the incident.
District Superintendent of Police K Tyagarajan rushed to the spot. The police fired tear gas shells and fired in the air. The situation was brought under control after personnel from the KSRP and the district armed reserve came to the spot.
A photographer was also attacked by the mob. His camera was snatched and damaged in the incident. Central zone IGP, Malini Krishnamurthy, visited the spot on Friday morning and took stock of the situation.
Tight security arrangements have been made in the city following Thursday’s incident with reinforcements from Bangalore and Tumkur, Tyagarajan said.
“It was a common accident. It was not right to set the bus on fire and pelting stones at the police. Our personnel have done well in the prevailing situation,” the IGP said.