BARIPADA: Tension flared up in Jharpokharia area of Mayurbhanj district on Tuesday after a 19-year-old boy was allegedly beaten to death by two youths for protesting rash driving near Badchatra village.
Police identified the deceased as Gopal Mohanta of Badchatra. The accused duo, Abhijit Mohapatra (20) and Balaram Rana (28) of Sanchatra village, have been arrested.
Jharpokharia IIC Mrityunjay Pradhan said as per the complaint of the deceased’s mother, her son was standing on the canal road near Badchatra village on Monday. Driving a motorcycle rashly, the accused duo crossed Gopal on the road. The 19-year-old reportedly asked them to drive carefully. Taking offence at it, Abhijit, who was riding the bike, stopped the two-wheeler and started to argue with Gopal.
The quarrel took an ugly turn when Balaram joined Abhijit and both of them started to assault the deceased. On being informed, Gopal’s mother reached the spot, rescued her son and brought him home. However, the accused along with some of their friends reached Gopal’s house and thrashed him mercilessly again. Subsequently, they left.
In the evening, Gopal complained of severe chest pain following which his mother rushed him to the local primary health centre. Minutes after his hospitalisation, he became unconscious and the doctor pronounced him dead. It is believed that Gopal died due to internal injuries which he suffered during the assault.
On Tuesday, irate villagers of Badchatra staged blockade at the junction of NH-18 and NH-49 with Gopal’s body demanding arrest of all the accused and a compensation of `25 lakh to the bereaved family.
Baripada SDPO Sujit Pradhan along with a team of Jharpokharia police went to the protest site and held discussion with the agitators. The blockade was lifted after the district administration provided `20,000 ex-gratia from the Red Cross fund to Gopal’s mother.
Basing on the complaint of Gopal’s mother, police registered a case under sections 302, 294, 506 and 34 of IPC and arrested the accused duo. They were produced in Baripada SDJM court and remanded in judicial custody.