A roadblock on NH12 by Sujapur residents on the outskirts of Malda town on Sunday afternoon to protest a woman’s death turned violent as some protesters attacked the police who reached there to clear the highway.

A civic volunteer and a police officer were injured in the attack. Additional police forces had to rush to the spot to bring the situation under control. Police have arrested five persons so far.

Sources said trouble started when Arefa Bibi, 30, a homemaker in Chhoto Mahadipur area who delivered a baby at a private nursing home in Sujapur on August 2, complained of chest pain at home on Sunday morning. Her family took her to the same nursing home but authorities refused to treat her, her relative said. She was taken to another private clinic in Malda town where she died. Her kin alleged that nursing home authorities in Sujapur had discharged her after her delivery without properly treating her.

Her angry relatives went to NH12 with her body and blocked the highway. Soon, their neighbours joined them and the crowd swelled. Traffic halted on the highway.

A police team from Kaliachak asked protesters to lift the roadblock but demonstrators, shouting slogans against the private nursing home, paid no heed.

The police then tried to shove them off the highway which led to a jostle. Some protesters turned violent and attacked the police team with bricks and stones and chased them with sticks. Subinspector Sirajuddin Sarkar and a civic volunteer were injured.

Police retaliated with batons. The crowd dispersed, but after brickbatting the police.

Additional police forces cleared the highway and traffic resumed after almost two hours. “Five persons have been arrested so far. We are in search of others. The situation is under control,” said Madan Mohan Roy, inspectorincharge of Kaliachak police station.