
Sambalpur, Oct. 6: A mob today blocked the Naional Highway No. 6 for eight hours near Katapali in Burla protesting against a youth's murder.
The deceased has been identified as Naresh Mahanad, 24, of Ghunghutipara of Sambalpur. Naresh and his friends had gone to a roadside dhaba last night and had their dinner. There was a quarrel over bill payment. An argument ensued, and the dhaba employees and their friends allegedly attacked them with sticks. The victims, barring Naresh, managed to flee the spot.
"The dispute was over Rs 50 only. We had Rs 500 with us, but we had to pay Rs 550 to the dhaba. We told them that we would pay Rs 50 later. But, the dhaba employees did not listen to us and started beating us with sticks. All of us ran away from the dhaba. However, they caught Naresh. And we found his body lying near the dhaba this morning. We informed his family members," said Bhisma Mallick, who had gone to the dhaba with Naresh last night.
After the news spread, hundreds of people, including women, rushed to the spot. The mob ransacked the dhaba and pelted the police with stones. The cops had to resort to mild baton charge to disperse the mob while they were ransacking the dhaba. Subsequently, the people blocked the highway there by burning tyres on the road.
Three platoons of police have been deployed as tension continues to grip the area. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on the highway and the blockade was lifted after the district administration assured the agitators of the arrest of culprits involved in the alleged murder.
"We want immediate arrest of the accused and demolition of the dhaba," said an agitator. The people also alleged that the police were trying to protect the accused. "Instead of arresting the accused, the police are trying to suppress our voice," he said.
Naresh's mother Meera Mahanand said: "They killed my son. The culprits should be given stringent punishment."
The people withdrew the agitation after discussion with the district administration officials and the police.
"The culprits will be arrested. We have assured the agitators that a portion of dhaba, which has been constructed on government land, will be demolished," said inspector in charge of Burla police station Tophan Bag.