Two youths on a two-wheeler died in a road accident in Cooch Behar on Saturday as, in a bid to avoid a traffic constable, they collided with a pick-up van.

Friends Gobindo Roy, 25, and Bikram Barman, 28, were moving on a bike along SH12.

As they reached near New Mathabhanga High School, eyewitnesses said they saw a traffic constable and Gobindo, who was riding the behicle, quickly went into reverse gear. Then, the two-wheeler dashed with a pick-up van that was moving behind them.

Residents nearby rushed to the site to help the two youths and shifted both of them to the sub-divisional hospital in Mathabhanga.

There, the doctors on duty pronounced both of them dead.

It s not yet clear why the two youths sought to avoid the traffic policeman.

The pick-up van escaped the spot.

Police are searching for both the vehicle and the driver.

All about Regional Science Technology and Biotechnology Congress

The two-day fifth Regional Science Technology and Biotechnology Congress ended on Saturday with the participation of hundreds of students, teachers, research scholars and scientists from several universities of the country at Raja Narendralal Khan Women’s College in West Midnapore.

Around 50 scientists from various science and technology institutes, including the IITs, attended the Congress in Midnapore to promote science education in remote parts of Bengal.

At least 50 science models and 280 researchers from the Jungle Mahal districts presented their science models and papers during the two-day event.

The event was organised jointly by the Bengal government’s science, technology and biotechnology department and the host College.