Odapada: Tension prevailed after a man who was working as a tipper driver died in an assault by the vehicle owner at Podapada village under Motanga police limits in Dhenkanal district Sunday.
Ramachandra Behere (47) died during treatment at the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack after being brutally assaulted by the tipper owner Rakesh Karan and his associate Susant Biswal.
Behera’s death sparked anger among the residents as they blocked the National Highway 55 demanding compensation for the bereaved family and arrest of the accused persons.
The two-hour road blockade from 1 pm to 3 pm disrupted traffic on the highway leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on either side of the road.
Motanga IIC Prabhat Kumar Tripathy rushed to the spot and tried to placate the agitators. They relented and traffic resumed on the route after Rs 5000 was given away to the bereaved family. Police detained Biswal and launched a manhunt for the tipper owner after registering a case.
What triggered the assault was, the tipper driven by Behera was damaged after it hit another vehicle Saturday evening. Behera rang up Karan and informed him about the mishap. Enraged, Karan rushed to the spot with Biswal and brutally beat up Behera.
Family members rescued Behera in a critical condition and got him preliminary treatment at Odapada hospital and then brought him back home. However, he was rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital in Dhenkanal after his health condition deteriorated late night.
The doctors there shifted him to SCB Medical College and Hospital. He however, succumbed to his injuries Sunday afternoon.
As the news of his death spread, tension prevailed in Behera’s village and the locals started blocking the NH 55.
PNN
