Jamshedpur, May 1: A violent mob smashed windscreens of as many as 40 trucks and trailers after one of the vehicles ran over an 18-year-old on a cycle on Marine Drive under Kadma police station area late last night.
Babu Chalak (18) was killed on the spot after a truck hit him, dragging him and his cycle for over 50 meters around 10.30pm in full view of residents of Bage Bustee. 

Soon, they gathered more people and launched a vicious attack on trucks and trailers passing through the area. They smashed windscreen and lights of the heavy vehicles, the frenzy continuing for over half hour.

A police party led by Kamda officer-in-charge Rajesh P. Sinha reached the spot early, but failed to stop the mob.
The residents then set up a road-block in front of Bage Bustee, demanding that police and the district administration identify the killer trailer and ensure its owner compensated the family of the boy, who, they said, was the sole earner of his family residing at Bajrang Chowk at Ulyan in Kadma.

Babu, who used to work in a private firm, is survived by his widowed mother and a younger sister. The accident occurred while he was returning from Bage Bustee where he had come to meet a friend.

The residents continued with their blockade well past midnight and dispersed only after Dhalbhum sub-divisional officer Prem Ranjan arrived at the spot and paid Rs 10,000 as ex-gratia to Babu’s family.
Ranjan also promised to see to it that Babu’s mother received pension benefits.

At least 1,000 heavy vehicles ply on Marine Drive every day, most of them speeding at night.
“We live amid the fear of unseen danger in the form of speeding trucks on Marine Drive, but the district administration is doing nothing to check the menace,” said Santosh Singh, a local resident.

Two injured

Two persons, including a 15-year-old boy, sustained injuries when the scooter on which they were travelling was hit by a car on Kalimati Road in Sakchi on Friday. Anjani and Ghanshyam Mahto (55) were admitted to a local nursing home.