Jorhat, June 26: A resident of Maijan, on the outskirts of Dibrugarh town in Upper Assam, was killed last night after being dragged by a mini-truck, carrying illegally collected timber, for nearly 5km with a rope tied to his body.
The youth has been identified as Boluram Sabasi, 28, a resident of Maijan area near Greenwood tea estate. The incident took place around 8.30pm.
As the news of the incident spread, a mob stopped the mini-truck and set it on fire. They severely beat up the truck's two handymen - Kalia Gogoi and Jitu Barua - who were rescued by police. Biraj Dutta, the driver, had fled.
The injured duo were admitted to the Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh. Their condition is stated to be critical.
The superintendent of police, Dibrugarh, Bir Bikram Gogoi told this correspondent over phone today that police investigation had so far found that the mini truck - coming from the Rohmoria area (Brahmaputra bank), about 23km from Dibrugarh town - was carrying illegally collected timber .
Gogoi said as the mini-truck was passing through Greenwood tea garden, about 12 youths signalled the vehicle to stop, but Dutta, the driver, did not respond to them.
The SP said two youths then jumped onto the truck to force Dutta, the driver, to stop, but he sped off . Gogoi said following acceleration, one of the youths fell from the vehicle.
A rope attached to the mini-truck reportedly got entangled with the body of Sabasi, the other youth. He fell down and got dragged for nearly 5km before the vehicle was stopped by a huge crowd .
Sabasi was declared brought dead at Assam Medical College and Hospital.
A forest team which went to Rohmoria this afternoon to inquire into illegal felling of trees had to face irate villagers who demanded a high-level probe and wanted to know about the fate of the truck driver who hails from the area.
The police are looking for Dutta.
Gogoi said a police team reached Rohmoria today and the villagers let the forest staff go. He said that the situation is under control.
Police personnel in large numbers have been deployed at Rohmoria and Maijan to maintain law and order.
