Mob sets fire to water tanker after man killed in accident

Tension prevailed near Wipro Avenue Road in Electronics City after a mob set fire to a water tanker after a man riding pillion on a two-wheeler came under its wheels and died on the spot on Wednesday morning.

The mob also assaulted the driver of the tanker and threw stones at some BMTC buses. The police, along with Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), had to resort to a mild lathi charge to disperse the mob. At around 8:30 am, the victim Nadeem, 18, a resident of Shikaripalya, was on his way to work along with his friend Riyaz. Nadeem was riding pillion while Riyaz was riding the bike.

As they joined Wipro Avenue road from Shikaripalya, the speeding water tanker rammed the bike near Wipro Gate 5. Nadeem died on the spot while Riyaz escaped with minor injuries.

As the news spread, residents of Shikaripalya rushed to the spot and thrashed the driver of the water tanker, identified as Naveen Kumar, 26, a resident of Electronics City. The passersby informed the traffic police, who rushed to the spot and tried to rescue Kumar. The traffic constables were also injured as they were manhandled too, said the police. A seriously injured Kumar was shifted to a nearby hospital and he is out of danger.

The situation went out of control as the mob set fire to the water tanker and threw stones at some BMTC buses. Around 20 policemen and CISF personnel arrived at the spot. By then nearly 250 people had gathered at the spot and had blocked the traffic. The police resorted to a mild lathi charge. Fire personnel too rushed to the spot and managed to douse the fire. 

A senior police officer said: “A couple of traffic police constables, attached to the Electronics City traffic police station, were injured in the melee. The injured traffic policemen and Kumar have filed complaints against the mob. Based on Kumar’s complaint, an attempt to murder case has been registered.”

Police are also trying to collect CCTV footage from nearby buildings and identify the people, who went on a rampage, added the officer.