Minor girl crushed to death, mob disrupts rail, road traffic

After the accident, the tractor driver fled, leaving the vehicle at Vidyapuri locality. Agitated locals blocked the Hilsa-fatuha railway line, halting the Islampur-hatia express for a few minutes.

A minor girl was crushed to death and her two sisters were injured when they came under a speeding tractor near Khakibaba chowk in Nalanda on Monday morning. The accident irked the locals and an angry mob resorted to rioting and pelted stones at the Hilsa police station.

Police officials reached the spot and tried to bring the situation under control but soon the agitated mob started pelting stones at them. Policemen had to resort to force to disperse the crowd. (HT Photo)

According to police, the accident occurred when the girls were trying to cross the main road. “An empty tractor coming from Fatuha side ran over the three sisters,” an eyewitness said. Nishu Kumari died on spot, while the other two, Rishu Kumari and Anshu Kumari, are injured and admitted at Hilsa sadar hospital.

After the accident, the tractor driver fled, leaving the vehicle at Vidyapuri locality. Agitated locals blocked the Hilsa-fatuha railway line, halting the Islampur-hatia express for a few minutes. They also set the tractor on fire and burnt tyres, blocking the Hilsa-patna road near Khakibagh for four hours.

Police officials reached the spot and tried to bring the situation under control but soon the agitated mob started pelting stones at them. Policemen had to resort to force to disperse the crowd.

Hilsa DSP M Ahmed reached the accident spot with reinforcements. The mob was dispersed after Ahmed assured them that policemen on duty will be suspended for negligence and also promised ex-gratia of ₹4 lakh to the family of the deceased.

Two separate FIRS have been lodged in the incident, one against the absconding tractor driver and one against the mob for rioting. DSP Ahmed said the driver would be arrested soon.