Coimbatore: Public protest as bus knocks down biker

Coimbatore: Villagers blocked the road and smashed the windowpanes of a speeding private bus by hurling stones after it knocked down a two wheeler rider in Annur on Monday. Police said Sundaramurthy, 45, who was working in a mill while living at Kariampalayam in Amman Nagar near Annur, was returning home in his two-wheeler after night duty, when the mishap happened at around 6.15 am.

The speeding bus, bound to Coimbatore from Satyamangalam, rammed on his vehicle from behind near Telungupalayam-Ellapalayam 'pirivu'. "He was thrown off from his bike and succumbed to injuries on the spot. Despite wearing a helmet, Sundaramurthy suffered a severe injury on his head and died," police said.

Following the mishap, the bus crew escaped from the spot by abandoning the bus, while anticipating trouble. Irate villagers, who gathered in large numbers, hurled stones and broke the glass windowpanes of the bus.

Family members including Sundaramurthy's wife Parvathi, who is a ward member in Kariampalayam panchayat, and other villagers squatted on the road in protest by placing the body of the deceased man. They demanded that the police arrest the bus crew and sought a crackdown on speeding buses on the stretch. The villagers also wanted the authorities to expand the road to prevent further mishaps.

The villagers, however, withdrew their protest after police officials rushed to the spot and held talks with them. Traffic was disrupted from 7 am to 10 am due to the road block. Meanwhile the body of the deceased person had been sent for post mortem at Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH). The Annur police have registered a case and are on the lookout for the absconding bus driver and conductor.