Barkatha MLA leads protest against ‘murder’

Hazaribag: A mob of around 500 led by Barkatha MLA Amit Yadav on Wednesday blocked Peto Chowk on NH-100 between Hazaribag and Bagodar for hours since morning to protest against the alleged murder of a youth of Barmakka village on December 8. They also demanded the arrest of Quasim Mian from the same village from whose well the body of the deceased, Sunil Thakur, was found.

Hazaribag SP Manoj Ratan Chothey said, “A tractor was returning to Peto Chowk carrying straw when a car carrying six persons hit the tractor on the night of December 7. Thakur tried to rescue the tractor driver but around 15 to 20 persons attacked Sunil and others. In order to protect themselves, Thakur and others ran. While the rest returned home, Thakur was found dead in Quasim’s well.”

The protestors on Thursday broke the boundary wall of Quasim’s house and set a portion of the house ablaze. SP said relatives of Sunil lodged an FIR on Thursday against Quasim and five others. “Efforts are on to arrest the culprits,” said SP.