54-year-old runs amok with KMC dumper, kills sr citizen
Times of India | 25 June 2025
Kolkata: A 73-year-old woman, Essha Mukherjee, died and her granddaughter, Soumili (14), was injured in Cossipore on Tuesday morning when a man, whom cops claim was mentally challenged, commandeered a corporation waste collection vehicle. The accused, Surinder Mishra (54), a resident of Bowbazar, has been detained. The incident occurred around 9. 40 am when Mishra, reportedly took control of a KMC vehicle while a worker was collecting garbage. Mishra reportedly managed to drive the vehicle for several feet before hitting the two pedestrians from behind. Essha sustained severe head injuries and was rushed to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital by local police. Despite medical intervention, she succumbed to her injuries around 12. 15 pm.
Essha was walking Soumili to school when the incident occurred. Soumili contested the cops' version. "My grandmother rarely took me to school. But on Tuesday, she insisted on dropping me to my school located nearby. We were walking towards Rabindra Bharati University when the accused, who was drunk, was passing by and saw the key hanging inside the vehicle. He tried to steal the vehicle, without realising that it was KMC property. We were both hit from behind, and I cannot recall anything after that," said Soumili after being released from the hospital. A doctor said she will be monitored for internal injuries. Chaitali Mukherjee, Soumili's mother, said she works at a govt hostel and was away on night duty. Her husband has a private job and left home in the morning. "When I am not there, my mother-in-law drops my daughter at her school at Chiria More. Even on Tuesday, she went for her morning walk barely two hours ago. The driver first hit my daughter and ran over her legs. He then hit my mother-in-law and crushed her right hand before running over her body," said Chaitali. "We are ascertaining why Mishra started the vat vehicle and drove it at such high speed" said Joint CP (Crime & Traffic) Rupesh Kumar. (With inputs from Sayantan Chakraborty)