Ex-MLA son’s SUV kills IAF man

An on-duty Indian Air Force corporal was mowed down early Wednesday during the Republic Day parade rehearsal on Red Road in front of Fort William by a speeding car belonging to the two sons of a former MLA. The victim, Abhimanyu Ranglal Gaud (21), was from Surat in Gujarat. Gaud, a corporal posted at the IAF Kalaikunda base since July 2014, was brought to Kolkata to supervise the Republic Day parade rehearsals.

At around 6.10 am, when he was supervising the ninth rehearsal of a marching contingent, suddenly a white Audi Q7, moving at a very high speed, sped towards the officer, knocked him off his feet and continued to move at high speed till it hit a barricade and came to a halt.

The road is normally closed for civil vehicular movement due to the parade rehearsals. Describing the death of the officer as “unfortunate”, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee ordered “strict and strong action” against the person responsible for the mishap. “It was a very unfortunate incident. I have ordered the police to initiate a case of murder. I wonder how the car managed to break several barricades and enter the practice zone,” she said.

The driver of the car fled after leaving the SUV near Kidderpore Road-Ronald Ross Sarani crossing. Gaud was declared brought dead at command hospital.