Two schoolgirls were crushed to death by a truck that was allegedly being chased by police after its driver did not pay extortion money to the law enforcers in Chittagong on Wednesday.
Another person was also injured in the incident that took place in Felagazidighi area of Fatikchhari upazila at around 12:30pm.
The deceased were identified as Mishu Akhter, 16, and Nisha Moni, 18. Both of them were students of Haidachakia Multipurpose High School.
Mishu's uncle Md Ayub claimed the police were chasing the paddy-carrying truck because they had not paid the extortion money to the district police traffic inspector, a sergeant who is in charge of traffic police in the area.
At one point, the truck driver lost control and the speeding vehicle overturned, crushing the two girls who were walking on the side of the road.
Md Azamgir, sub-inspector (SI) of Fatikchhari Police station, said the girls died before they could be taken to hospital.
The victim families demanded punishment of the traffic inspector and other policemen involved as rejection to pay extortion money to them allegedly set off the chain of tragic events.
The policemen in question were unavailable for comments.
Following the accident, agitated locals blockaded the Chittagong-Khagrachhari and Chittagong-Ramgarh highways till 3pm and set a motorcycle on fire.
They called the protest off following assurances of justice from local authorities.
