KOLKATA: A 27-year-old dancer, Biki Das of Russa Road in Tollygunge, who joined a food delivery firm as a delivery man only two days ago, was injured after his bike was allegedly hit by a Kolkata Police sergeant’s motorcycle near Ashoka Nursing Home at Jodhpur Park on Friday around 7.45pm.
Das, who was part of several dance shows and had ended up as a runner-up in one such show seven years ago, was making a living by imparting dance training and taking part in shows.
He had also been an assistant choreographer in two films.
But the lockdown last year and the second Covid wave made him join a job as a delivery boy.
The accident has left him with seven broken ribs and doctors have warned him not to ride bike.
Returning to dancing might take longer, they said.
Locals claimed the sergeant, posted with Rabindra Sarobar PS, allegedly misbehaved with Das after the incident and even threatened him.
Locals then gheraoed the sergeant, demanding his arrest.
A force from Lake PS reached the spot and brought the situation under control.
Lalbazar has now suspended the sergeant pending further inquiry even as an FIR has been lodged based on a complaint of Das’s wife Sangeeta Mondal Das.
“I joined the firm as I could no longer bear to see my father shoulder all financial burden.
I had worked barely for 48 hours when I was asked to pick up a delivery from a Biryani joint at Ranikuthi.
I was on my bike and near Ashoka Hospital when I saw another two-wheeler coming out of a blind alley at a high speed.
It smashed my bike.
As I fell, I could hardly breathe and felt a numbing pain on my ribs.
Another fellow food delivery employee helped me.
A few others also rushed to my help.
I told the rider that he should not have ridden the bike at such a speed.
He asked me to shut up or face a kick.
It was then that I realized that he was a cop,” said Das on Sunday.
In her complaint letter, Sangita alleged that the cop was under the influence of alcohol.
Das said he was still having issues with breathing and cannot sit straight for long after being released from a hospital at Jodhpur Park after treatment.
“I will have to follow the doctor’s advice but I really want to join the job as early as possible,” he said.
“CCTV footage has been collected.
We will also probe if the sergeant misbehaved with locals,” said a senior officer.
DCP (south east) Sudip Sarkar said, “The officer has been suspended pending inquiry.
The complaint is being probed.”