Binjharpur: Tension flared up at Bitana and Pritipur areas here in Jajpur district after a Plus II college-going girl was crushed to death under the wheels of a speeding tractor. The girl was on her way to attend an examination when the accident happened.
Irate locals halted vehicles for hours together on Jajpur-Pritipur main road. Vehicular movements came to standstill as locals burnt tyres and caused multiple blockades on the road. The deceased was identified as Meenakshi Sahu, daughter of Pramod Sahu of Utarkula panchayat.
Sources said the incident occurred while Meenakshi was on her way to attend an examination in her college. An over-speeding tractor ran over her and she died on the spot, her classmates said.
The tractor reportedly belonged to Abdul Bari Khan of Nathipur village. The driver was identified as Bhagi Mallick who fled the scene after the incident.
Hundreds of college students along with locals placed the body on the main road and continued the demonstration. Local police and additional tehsildar tried in vain to pacify the mob. The demonstrators demanded a visit by the district collector to the spot. Later, SDPO Jallandar Jali posted a police platoon on the spot as the situation worsened. Sub-collector Maheswar Panigrahi reached the spot and held discussions with agitated college students.
The demonstrators relented after Maheswar agreed to their demands that included Rs 20 lakh as compensation for Meenakshi’s family, a government job to a member of the bereaved family and a traffic signal at the college square. They also demanded Rs 20,000 from the Red Cross and Indira Awas Yojana for Meenakshi’s family.
The students continued their demonstration under scorching heat. Over five students fainted due to heat wave but the demonstration continued, sources said.
Police registered a case and seized the vehicle. The body was later sent for post-mortem and a search started to nab the driver. PNN