Date:20/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/20/stories/2006022020250400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Two killed in road accident

Staff Reporter

Residents block road; passengers run for cover as BMTC buses are damaged

SCENE OF TROUBLE: Police trying to pacify the crowd that gathered after the accident in Bangalore on Sunday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: Two persons were killed when a Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) mini-bus ran over them near Mohammaden Block Bridge in Devaiah Park on Sunday.

The agitated residents of the area threw stones at five buses and blocked traffic on Malleswaram 5th Cross.

The police gave the names of the dead as Shafi Ahmed (14) and Zakirullah (17), who were residents of Mohammaden Block. Some of the passengers also suffered injuries in the stone-throwing incident.

According to the police, Shafi Ahmed was riding a motorcycle with Zakirullah on the road bridge, when Shafi Ahmed lost control of the vehicle and hit a median.

The two fell off the motorcycle and the BMTC mini-bus, which was on the other lane, ran over them around 8 p.m.

The bus driver did not stop the vehicle, the police said.

A team of traffic policemen shifted the bodies to K.C. General Hospital.

As the bodies were taken away, the residents of Mohammaden Block gathered on Malleswaram 5th Cross and stopped BMTC buses on the road and threw stones at them. This forced passengers to run for cover. Two buses were damaged completely and three partially damaged.

The residents blocked the road and shouted slogans against the BMTC demanding compensation to the families of the victims of the accident. They also wanted the police to take immediate action against the bus driver. Senior police officials had a tough time pacifying the agitated crowd.

The police also brought in additional force.

The residents dispersed only after the Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) K.V. Sharat Chandra promised that action would be taken against the BMTC driver.

He also said a letter would be sent to the BMTC suggesting payment of compensation to the families of the dead.