SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Dec 19: A bike rider was crushed to death by a sand-laden tractor following a minor dispute on National Highway-32 near Musa Pahadi under the Katras police station area on Friday.
The deceased was identified as Mahaveer Mahto, who was travelling on a motorcycle with his daughter to Baliapur for her examination.
According to police, a sand-loaded tractor, coming from the wrong side on the Musa Pahadi bridge, collided with the motorcycle. When Mahaveer Mahto protested and demanded compensation for the damage, the tractor driver allegedly ran him over and fled the spot.
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Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Baghmara, Purushottam Kumar Singh said Mahaveer Mahto died on the spot, while his daughter escaped unhurt.
Following the incident, angry locals blocked NH-32 with the body, demanding the arrest of the driver, seizure of the vehicle, and compensation for the victim’s family.
Police personnel from Katras, Tetulmari, Baghmara and Mahuda police stations rushed to the spot to control the situation.
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The highway remained blocked for nearly four hours before the protest was lifted after the SDPO informed the agitators that the tractor driver had been taken into custody and the vehicle seized. He said further legal action would be initiated after the lodging of a formal complaint.
