KOLKATA (Web Desk) – 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.
Corporal Abhimanyu Gaud (21) was the drill instructor of the IAF contingent that will participate in the Republic Day parade in Kolkata this year, The Hindu reported.
Drunk or daredevil? Indian man rams jeep into Wagah border gate
He was participating in a rehearsal around 6.30 am on Wednesday morning when a white Audi Q7 SUV tore through the security cordon laid around Red Road by Kolkata Police and knocked him down. The IAF personnel was rushed to the Eastern Command Hospital where he was declared brought dead.
The driver managed to escape the police were going though CCTV footage to identify him. “We are also inquiring how the vehicle managed to breach the security cordon around Red Road,” said Kolkata Police commissioner Surojit Kar Purakayastha.
The nearly Rs 7.6 million SUV was purchased recently in the name of Mussadi Business Pvt Ltd of 16, Burman Street in north Kolkata. It is suspected that the vehicle was being driven by Ambia Sohrab, son of former Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Md Sohrab who happens to be the president of the Fruit Merchants’ Association in Kolkata.
Read more: Colonel among 11 dead in terrorist attack on Indian air force base
Md Sohrab was also a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA till 2011. The incident has sent shock waves to security agencies who consider it was a major security breach.
“The Audi came at a high speed, knocked down the Corporal and then sped away. It then swerved and smashed into a barricade. The driver got off and escaped before security personnel could reach the spot where the SUV collided with the barricade. The vehicle managed to breach three rings of security around Red Road. It could have been an explosive-laden vehicle. We have taken up the matter with the police who are in charge of security during the parade rehearsal,” a senior defence ministry official said.
