Speeding tempo kills girl child; locals block road to protest in Birbhum

Tension gripped Birbhum’s Labpur area on Friday after a minor girl died in a road accident, triggering protests by angry locals. Residents blocked the Chauhatta–Sainthia road and burned tyres on the roadway, demanding action after the child was allegedly hit by a speeding vehicle. Police from Labpur police station rushed to the spot and began efforts to control the situation.

According to local sources, the deceased girl was a resident of Dhandanga village under Labpur police station. The accident occurred around 10:30 am on Friday when the child was walking with her mother along the Chauhatta–Sainthia road. Locals alleged that a tempo coming at high speed from the Chauhatta direction struck the minor while she was crossing the road.

The child sustained serious injuries in the collision. Residents quickly rescued her and rushed her to a nearby hospital, but doctors declared her dead. News of the death sparked widespread anger in the area, leading to spontaneous protests by villagers. Protesters stopped the vehicle involved in the accident and blocked the road by burning tyres and placing tree trunks across the route, disrupting traffic for a long time. The driver of the vehicle has reportedly been absconding since the accident. Police are continuing efforts to restore normalcy in the area and trace the accused driver.