Road accident leads to riot in India

CALCUTTA, India, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- A father and his two children were killed by a speeding truck in India, triggering a riot in which police killed three more people, a report said Friday

The Telegraph of Calcutta reported Arjun Singh, 40, and his two children, ages 8 and 10, died instantly when the truck hit them around 6 a.m. local time. Singh was taking his children to school in Durgapur.

A group of youths rushed to call the police. But officers less than half-a-mile from the accident took 30 minutes to arrive.

Angered, residents blocked the road and refused to hand over the bodies.

The residents hurled stones and bricks and beat up the officer in charge. He ran to a building, but the mob chased him there and set the building on fire.

Special forces were called in. They deployed tear gas before opening fire on the mob, killing three. Several other peope were in critical condition, while police reported 11 officers were injured.