The death of a youth, who was injured in a motorcycle crash on Christmas morning in Behala, sparked protests by residents of the neighbourhood against alleged police inaction on Wednesday afternoon and resulted in a road blockade outside Behala police station for more than an hour.
Ajay Kumar Singh, 24, a resident of Mondal Temple Lane, near New Alipore, was driving his motorcycle through Diamond Harbour Road early on Monday when his vehicle collided with another two-wheeler.
“The youth was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. The second motorcycle involved in the accident fled," said an officer of Behala police station.
The crash was reported around 2.35am on Monday.
Singh was taken to SSKM Hospital, where he was admitted.
An officer of the traffic department said Singh had suffered serious head injuries. He died on Wednesday.
The news of the 24-year-old's death sparked protests by residents of the neighbourhood where he lived. The protesters alleged that the police had released a man who had been arrested in the case.
“After the accident, we collected CCTV footage and all details of the biker and handed them to officers at Behala police station. But the police released the man they had arrested. Today, our friend is no more but the man who was responsible for the death is not in custody," said a friend of the deceased youth.
The protesters also accused the police of inaction. “The police said they will take action in a few days. This is shocking. They have all the details but are unwilling to arrest the culprit," said a protester.
A senior officer said they had arrested a motorcyclist after the crash but he was granted bail.
The mob demonstrated outside Behala police station and blocked Diamond Harbour Road for more than an hour.
Sources said the blockade was withdrawn after the police assured the agitators that action would be taken in “10 minutes”.
A team of officers of Behala police station stepped out soon after the agitators withdrew the blockade. They were seen returning with a man after some time.
Several people in the neighbourhood complained that the police could have acted earlier.
The stretch where the fatal crash occurred, the residents said, are prone to accidents.
On December 2, a motorcyclist was found lying unconscious on the stretch. He was taken to Vidyasagar State General Hospital, where he was declared dead.
The deceased was identified as Subhodip Bijoli, 30, a resident of Maheshtala. The police had said Bijoli was not wearing a helmet.
