Eleven pilgrims including five women were killed and 12 others were injured when a speeding truck hit the two tractor-trolleys in which they were bussed in Math area of Jhansi district late on Saturday night. According to reports, the pilgrims were being ferried by two tractor-trolleys to Ratangarh Mata Mandir in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh. On the way the pilgrims stopped to offer puja at a temple locate opposite the forest range office at village Bhujaund. Some of the pilgrims left for the temple while other remained seated in the vehicles to rest after the driver parked it road side.
In between, a speeding truck knocked one of the tractor-trolleys and later collided with the other. The incident happened at around 2230. While nine of the pilgrims died on the spot, two succumbed to the injury on way to the hospital. The deceased have been identified as Rameshwar (50) Ashok(50), Ramsri (42), Seema( 40), Meera Devi (45), Prema Devi(45), Santoshi Yadav (36), Urmila (40), Ashika (12), Rishab (2) and Vickey(13). Risabh and Seema died during treatment at the hospital. The injured have been admitted to the Jhansi Medical College hospital where condition of four is stated to be critical.
In protest of the incident, the residents blocked the main road for traffic flow and demanded compensation for the deceased families. Heavy police force reached the place to control the situation. After the assurance of the police, the irate mob dispersed the scene and the block on the highway was cleared. Shot dead Unidentified miscreants shot dead a milk vendor, Abid of Nagariya Kasimganj under Tanda Police station of Rampur district around 3 am on Sunday. Abid was sleeping at his house when he heard the commotion in the yard where he had put his four buffaloes. On noticing that the miscreants were untying the cattle to steal it, he raised an alarm and ran to the yard to challenge the miscreants. At this the miscreants shot at him and fled with the cattle.
The family rushed Abid to hospital where he was declared brought dead. The police said Abid suffered firearm at his chest and he died of excessive bleeding. A case was registered in this connection and investigations are underway. Meanwhile, unidentified miscreants stabbed a labourer, Rampal (50) to death when he was returning his home on Saturday night. He was attacked when he was traveling between sector 59 and sector 54 of Gautambuddha Nagar. A case was registered at sector 58 police station in the connection.