Mob blocks road after killing of truck driver

Patna: An irate mob on Friday blocked traffic on the Danapur-Gandhi Maidan road for around two hours while protesting against the murder of Bittu and demanding the immediate arrest of the assailants. Bittu was brutally assaulted by more than a dozen youths with rods, sticks, bricks and stones in the Takiyapar locality under Danapur police station area on Thursday evening. He was rushed to a private hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. He was a truck driver and had returned home three days earlier to attend his sister’s scheduled marriage on May 1. He had a criminal history and had been in jail earlier. The family submitted a written complaint against three named accused. Further investigation is ongoing, police said.

Bittu alias Palkian (28) was a resident of Kasyatoli in the Danapur police station area. Enraged by the murder, the deceased’s family members and local residents took to the streets. They placed the body on the road near the Gandhi Murti at Takiyapar and blocked the Danapur-Gandhi Maidan main road. The protesters raised slogans against the administration and demanded the earliest possible arrest of those involved in the incident.

As soon as news of the road blockade spread, a large police force from Danapur police station reached the spot. The police tried to persuade the protesters to end the blockade. After about one hour of arguments, the police assured them of the early arrest of the criminals, following which the blockade was cleared.

Danapur SHO Prashant Kumar Bharadwaj said, “Bittu had an old dispute with the main accused living in the same locality. But the cause of dispute has not been revealed by the family members. Currently, the names of the accused could not be revealed. Police are investigating the case and efforts are underway to arrest the accused.”

The SHO added that CCTV footage from around the crime scene was being examined to identify those involved in the incident. The criminals involved in the incident will be arrested soon.

“Bittu served jail two times earlier in cases related to some petty crimes,” Bharadwaj added.