A 58 year BCCL employee, Lakhi Ram Manjhi was crushed to death this morning by speeding coal laden tipper truck near vegetable market of MOCP area of Dhanbad under Tisra police station leading to massive protest from the family members of the deceased as well as local resident of MOCP area.

The protesters who blocked Jharia Baliapur road for more than four hours were demanding compensation for the family members of the deceased and also the arrest of the driver of the killer tipper truck, which was later seized by police.

Notably, Lakhi Ram Manjhi, a resident of Chandkuian locality of Jharia who was heading towards Jharia was hit by a tipper truck moving in opposite direction towards Baliapur this morning and fled away from the site. The driver of the truck however later abandoned the vehicle near the Durga Temple of Mukunda and fled on foot.

A team of Tisra Police station led by officer in Charge SP Kushwaha which reached at the site seized the tipper truck and tried to pacify the local residents who got infuriated over the accident and blocked Jharia Baliapur Road for more seven hours.

The irate protesters who were demanding monetary compensation, jobs for the dependents of the deceased also demanded immediate arrest of the driver of the tipper truck and effective steps to prevent the recurrence of the accident.

SP Kushwaha, officer in charge of Tisra tried in vain to convince the irate protestors to withdraw their strike but he failed in his attempt.

Later police reinforcements from adjoining police stations, including Baliapur police station led by it’s officer in Charge Shweta Kumari and Ghanudih Police station led by officer in charge Chandrashekhar Singh also reached at the site but the local residents were not ready to budge from the site without getting assurance for job on compassionate ground for the dependents of the deceased.

The blockade however was finally withdrawn only after the written assurance given by project officer of Kuian Colliery,Nirbhar Chakbraborty, to provide a job within a month to Bansi Ram Manjhi, one of the sons of the deceased on compassionate ground. The assurance was made during a tripartite meeting held between the district administration, BCCL authorities and protestors under the leadership of circle Officer of Baliapur, Rampravesh Kumar who also assured to provide compensation worth Rs 1 lakh to the dependents of the deceased. Local police on it’s part also assured to implement effective steps to prevent accidents in the area by developing speed breakers in the residential localities.