A horrific road accident in Kolkata’s Salt Lake area has claimed the life of a 22-year-old Delivery Agent, triggering widespread protests and serious allegations of negligence against the local police. Soumen Mandal, who worked as both a delivery professional and a bike-cab rider to support his underprivileged family, was charred to death after a speeding car pinned him against a railing and subsequently exploded.
The Fatal Collision
The incident occurred yesterday evening at a busy traffic intersection. CCTV footage of the crash reveals a chilling sequence of events: Soumen and a pillion rider were stationary at a red light alongside other vehicles. Suddenly, a speeding car entered the frame from the right, ramming into Soumen’s two-wheeler with immense force. The impact threw both riders into the air. While the pillion rider suffered fractures to his hip and arm, Soumen was dragged by the car’s bonnet toward an iron railing. Reports suggest a pointed section of the railing penetrated his leg, trapping him between the metal and the vehicle.
A Preventable Tragedy?
The tragedy turned into a nightmare moments later when the car’s engine exploded into flames. While the occupants of the car were reportedly rescued and rushed to a hospital immediately, Soumen remained trapped. Witnesses and local residents allege that the 22-year-old was left to burn alive while authorities failed to intervene.
Massive protests erupted at the site as locals accused the police personnel on duty of prioritizing filming videos of the incident over rescue efforts. Furthermore, residents claimed that fire engines arrived too late to save the young man. To disperse the grieving and angry crowd, police reportedly deployed teargas shells, further escalating tensions in the area.
Family Alleges Foul Play and Harassment
Soumen’s family, hailing from Basanti in South 25 Parganas, has slammed the police for their handling of the case. Twelve hours after the crash, no arrests had been made, prompting the family to question the transparency of the investigation.
The family’s grievances include:
Hostile Treatment: They claim they were driven out of the police station when attempting to file a formal complaint.
Procedural Misconduct: Relatives allege that officers wrote the complaint themselves and forced an illiterate family member to sign it without explaining the contents.”My brother passed away right there because the police didn’t provide any assistance to him.” They were busy shooting videos instead,” Soumen’s brother stated.
Current Status of the Investigation
In response to the outcry, the police have registered a case under culpable homicide not amounting to murder. They maintained that a probe is currently underway to identify the driver and determine the exact cause of the explosion.
The death of Delivery Agent Soumen Mandal has become a focal point for frustrations regarding road safety and the perceived apathy of law enforcement. As a young man who started working early to pull his family out of poverty, his sudden and gruesome death has left a community demanding accountability and justice.
Also Read:- School Bus Tragedy in Rohtas on NH-319 : 2 Teachers Killed, 16 Injured
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