Jamshedpur, May 16: Around two dozen people, led by local BJP leaders, today gheraoed Bistupur police station, demanding proper investigation into the death of a driver who was found dead near Tata Steel Works in Jamshedpur late last night.

The body of Uma Shankar Thakur (55), a resident of Mango who used to work with Sakchi-based transport firm Mahiwal Travels, was found on Sakchi-Bistupur Main Road near Tata Steel general office traffic signal around 10.45pm.

Sources claimed that Thakur had come to park a 32-seater bus inside Tata Steel Works and he looked hale and hearty when he walked out of the company around 10.10pm. Around half an hour later, a police patrol team found him lying on the road. He was rushed to MGM Medical College and Hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

BJP leader Vikash Singh, who led the protest to Bistupur thana this morning, claimed it was a case of murder.

"There was no sign of external injury, but his shoes were found far away from his body. This apart, the news of the driver's death was broken to his family and relatives this morning. The delay arouses suspicion. The CCTV footage taken inside the Tata Steel premises shows that the driver had walked out of the general office gate. Then what could have happened to him suddenly?" asked Singh.

Gurdip Singh Pappu, the owner of Mahiwal Travels that provides services to Tata Steel, Tata Motors among others, also accompanied the protesting BJP workers and the driver's relatives to the thana.

"We were demanding proper investigation into the incident to ascertain the real reason behind the death. Police promised to send the body for post-mortem," said Pappu.

Bistupur OC Jitender Kumar, however, said that prima facie it appeared that the driver died of a cardiac stroke. "There is no external injury. However, the body has been sent for post-mortem. The autopsy report will explain the reason behind the death," said the OC added.