A recklessly driven police bus went out of control near the Gandhi Medical College in the state capital on Saturday crushing to death seven persons, including two first-year medical college students, one woman and a child.
The medical students killed in the gory accident have been identified as Deepak Mishra and Abhishek Agrawal. Another medical student, Pawan Jain, who was also hit by the Police vehicle, has been admitted in the Hamidia hospital along with some others who were also injured in this accident.
After the accident, which occurred at about 1.30 pm, there was a riot-like situation at the busy Royal Market along the famous Tajul Masajid as crowds surged on the road to lodge their protest. Many persons were injured as the Police resorted to lathicharge and also fired teargas shells to disperse the mob.
This correspondent saw one of the injured Israr Khan, resident of Sajida Nagar-Karbala. He was admitted in the surgical ward No. 5 with a broken shoulder.
His attendant said that he was passing by and was caught in the lathicharge.
On another bed in the same ward was a physically challenged victim Ansar. He was badly wounded as he was thrown away from an autorickshaw after it was hit by the police bus.
The Bhopal senior superintendent of police told this newspaper that the driver involved in this accident has been suspended and the police has registered a case. He said that only after investigations, we would know whether or not the accident was caused by brake failure.
Heavy police force was deployed at the Gandhi Medical College-Hamidia Hospital following the accident. The Medical College students also came out in large numbers to protest. They even sat on a protest dharna at the College entrance and were seen shouting slogans against the police.