In a shocking incident, the son of a Trinamool Congress leader driving an Audi SUV at breakneck speed on Wednesday morning mowed down an airman on duty in Kolkata’s high-security Red Road area.
The incident happened at 6.30 am near Fort William gate when Abhimanyu Gaud, 21, a Corporal in the Indian Air Force (IAF) was supervising the Republic Day parade rehearsal.
“A brand new Audi Q7 SUV being driven recklessly by its sole occupant appeared from nowhere and rammed through three barricades in a row before hitting the airman,” eyewitnesses said.
The victim was instantly rushed to Eastern Command Hospital where he was declared brought dead by doctors.
The SUV, without a number plate, did not stop and was intercepted by police nearly a mile away at the Vidya Sagar Setu that leads to Howrah. However, the driver managed to give the police a slip as he abandoned the SUV and fled.
The nearly `76 lakh SUV was purchased recently in the name of Mussadi Business Pvt ltd of 16, Burman Street in north Kolkata. The vehicle was being driven by 26-year-old Ambiyar Sohrab, son of Mohammad Sohrab who was a Rashtriya Janata Dal MlA till 2011 before he joined the TMC. The police raided Sohrab’s residence but failed to trace him, sources said.
“The incident is shocking and the person who did it deserves the strictest punishment,” Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who is heading for her second Assembly elections this year said after visiting the place.
“It is unprecedented to break the grid walls,” Police Commissioner Surajit Karpurakayastha said. The police are scrutinizing CCTV footage of the area he said, adding footage showed that there was only one person inside the SUV.
An FIR was lodged by the Defence officials at the Maidan Police Station as the incident has sent shock waves among security agencies who consider it a major security breach.
The Corporal hailed from Gujarat and was posted at the Kalaikunda Air Base. Gaud had come to Kolkata as he was the drill instructor of the IAF contingent that will participate in the Republic Day parade in the city this year.