Seventeen people have been arrested in connection with the incident. Burdwan Police Superintendent Piyush Pandey said, “We will take firm action against those involved in the incident. Raids are being conducted to arrest the others involved in the case, but it is difficult since the victim of the accident is a local.”

Around 11 am, an empty truck approaching the New Town slum area lost control while taking a turn and crushed Bikash Bauri, a bicycle-borne Class V student on his way to school. He died on the spot. While the driver tried to escape, locals gave it a chase and intercepted the truck. A group of 10 to 15 youths started pelting stones at the truck, smashed its windscreens and flattened its tyres.

Soon a mob gathered and dragged Singh, a resident of neighbouring Ashoknagar locality, out of the truck and started beating him up.

Singh, according to the police, initially managed to escape but was later caught and tied to a tree. The mob poured kerosene on Singh and set him on fire.

As the news of the incident spread, Singh’s wife Devi and local CPM councillor Dipayan Roy rushed to the spot. The police, led by DSP Tarun Halder, arrived around noon and dispersed the mob. Singh was rushed to the Asansol S D Hospital.

Hospital Superintendent Moloy Banerjee said, “He received almost 80 per cent burns along with deep cuts and gashes on his head and legs. As his condition was deteriorating, we shifted him to SSKM.”