Eight killed as truck ploughs through crowd [ Tritiyo Matra News ]

Eight killed as truck ploughs through crowd

Local February 04, 2017

At least eight pilgrims were killed and seven were injured as a truck ploughed through a crowd gathered in Alutila tourist area under Matiranga in Khagrachari to join the funeral programme of a Buddhist monk on Friday.
The United Peoples Democratic Front termed the incident a ‘planned killing’ and urged the government to form a committee to investigate it and to ensure exemplary punishment for the person who was driving the truck.
The truck driver’s helper Md Selim, 18, who had no driving licence, was driving the truck as the driver stayed Matiranga to rest, Matiranga police station officer-in-charge Shahadot Hossain Tito said.
The police officer said that they arrested Md Selim, a resident of Dighinala upazila in Khagrachari and seized the truck bearing number Chittagong Metro-Ta-11-3800.
Selim and the truck were taken to Khagrachari sadar police station, its officer-in-charge Tareq Mohammad Abdul Hannan said.
The deceased were identified as Neimra Marma, 40, Mongmong Marma’s son Ukraching Marma, 7, Mong Marma’s son Uchinu Marma, 17, and Chaihalaga Marma’s daughters Pulu Marma, 16, and Tuntuni, 6, Boby Marma, 30, of Choungrachari village under Mahalchari upazila, Mong Hla Pru Marma’s daughter Pulu Marma, 16, of Tabalchhari village and Kyasu Marma’s son Sathoyai Pru Marma, 15, of Ramgar village under Matiranga upazila in Khagrachari.
The injured – Umeching Marma, 30, Nitamang Marma’s son Chinki Ulha Marma, 8, and Paisau Marma’s son Rony Marma, 16, of Choungrachari village under Mahalchari upazila, Jony Marma, 28, of Murapara village under Mahalchari, Indra Tripura’s son Sukesh Tripura, 16, Mongmong Marma’s daughter Ching Mrau Marma, 15, and Mranaw Marma, 24, of Chabalchari village under Matiranga in Khagrachari – were admitted to hospitals.
The victims gathered for the funeral of late Buddhist monk Chandra Mani Mahasthabir, the founder of Alutila Nabagraha Dhatuchaitya Buddhist Bihar. A fair was also arranged on the occasion at Alutila under Matiranga upazila. The funeral began on Thursday and would end today.
Matiranga police station officer-in-charge Shahadot Hossain Tito said that helper Selim, who was driving the Khagrachari-bound stone-laden truck, lost control over the steering while sliding down a hillock at Alutila and ploughed through the crowd, leaving seven people killed on the spot and injuring eight others at about 10:45am.
The victims were rushed to Khagrachari Sadar Hospital from where three were later sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital, he said.
Boby Marma, who was among the three, died on the way to the medical college, he said.
People gathered centring stalls of different goods that were set on the both sides of the road, he said.
A number of pilgrims at the spot who witnessed the tragedy said that the truck driver jumped from the truck when the truck hit one of the pilgrims and then the truck ploughed through the crowd until it crashed into a wall within a few feet.
They said that the angry mob caught and beat Selim and handed him over to police.
The truck was driven to the police station, they said.
Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital resident medical officer Nayanmay Tripura said that three of the injured were referred to Chittagong Medical College Hospital.
Funeral committee convener Chai Tho Ang Marma, also former Khagrachhari Zila Parishad chairman, prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul of the deceased and early recovery of the injured ones.
A UPDF statement issued by its district organiser Pradipan Khisa, terming the incident a planned murder, said that the local administration could not avoid their responsibility for the accident.
Though several thousand people gathered for the funeral, the administration did not ensure security of the pilgrims and even did not maintain any traffic control system, the statement added.
Khagrachari additional superintendent of police SM Salauddin denied the allegation and said that it was an accident and it happened as the ‘driver’ lost control over the steering.