IAF instructor killed during R’Day rehearsal in Kolkata

An Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel was run over and killed by a 26-year-old son of a politician in Kolkata on Wednesday morning.

The road is normally closed for civilian traffic during the rehearsal, but the auto raced towards Air Force drill instructor Corporal Abhimanyu Gaud and knocked him over as he was supervising the parade.

The officer sustained grievous injuries and was rushed to a military hospital where doctors declared him dead.

The driver of the Audi vehicle fled from the scene of the accident, leaving the auto behind.

Ms. Banerjee, who visited the Army hospital, said that she has directed police to register a murder case in connection with the incident. “And the showroom records show the auto purchased for Rs 90 lakh belonged to Sohrab’s son Ambia Sohrab”, an officer said. The incident is very unfortunate. Md Sohrab was also an Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA till 2011.

“As per the challan, the Audi vehicle was bought only a couple of days back. We are also inquiring how the vehicle managed to breach the security cordon around Red Road”, Purakayastha said from the spot.

The Kolkata police Commissioner said, “It is an unprecedented thing … breaking the grid rails. We are looking into every aspect of the incident”, Purkayastha said after inspecting the vehicle.

“We have alerted all the police stations surrounding the area and have started search operations for the driver”. The driver got off and escaped before security personnel could reach the spot where the SUV collided with the barricade.