Post News Network
Jasipur, May 19: In a tragic incident, an 8-year-old boy of Similipal area was killed in a road accident Tuesday, while he was coming along with his family to tehsil office for Aadhaar card.
Tempers ran high in the area following the accident. Incensed over the tragedy, scores of locals went on rampage and staged road blockade for several hours on the national highway, bringing traffic to a halt. Placing the body on the road, the agitating people shouted slogans against the administration. Later a large crowd trooped to the block and tehsil offices which were reportedly ransacked. The offices were later locked from outside.
In the mean time, some people demanded drinking water. BDO Dharmandra Mallick allegedly remarked inappropriately, which instigated women present there. They pushed him and assaulted him too. However, police intervened and rescued the BDO from the mob.
According to report, Prahallad Mahakud and his son Raghu Mahakud of Kusumi village in Chargadia panchayat were crossing the road in front of the tehsil office. They were here to get themselves photographed for Aadhaar card. A speeding vehicle knocked him down, killing Raghu on the spot.
As the agitation continued, the police had to adopt mild lathicharge on the road to disperse them. Police had a tough time to retrieve the body from the people. The agitators demanded Rs 10 lakh to the bereaved family as compensation.
Panchapidhi sub-collector Debesh Kumar Biswal, Rairangpur ASP Gobind Chandra Mallick, Karanjia SDPO Ramesh Chandra Parida along with police officials rushed to the spot. Scores of people’s representatives and social activists also visited the spot. They managed to pacify the agitators. Rupees 10,000 was paid to the family as ex-gratia from district Red Cross fund.