Traffic hit on NH-522 in Jharkhand's Chatra as locals block road over CRPF jawan's death

Chatra, Jul 11 (PTI) Traffic remained paralysed on NH-522 in Jharkhand's Chatra district on Saturday as locals continued their road blockade demanding compensation for the family of a 28-year-old CRPF jawan who died in a road accident, officials said. The blockade, which began on Thursday evening, was continuing till 8 pm on Saturday, leaving hundreds of vehicles, including trucks and passenger buses, stranded in long queues on both sides of the highway, they said. The protest began after Lakshman Kumar Yadav, a resident of Birajpur village under Lawalong police station area, died when a dumper collided head-on with his motorcycle on Thursday evening. Chatra BJP MP Kalicharan Singh and Simaria MLA Ujjwal Kumar Das also extended support to the protestors and led a separate blockade at Simaria sub-divisional headquarters Chowk, alleging that the district administration had failed to address their demands. The fresh blockade disrupted coal transportation from Latehar's Balumath railway siding and Hazaribagh's Katkamsandi railway siding to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states. "The benefits of coal transportation from Hazaribagh go to Hazaribagh district through CSR funds, while the people of Chatra only get dust, accidents and deaths," Singh told reporters. The MP said he had raised the demand for a separate coal transportation route bypassing public roads in meetings with Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), NTPC and the district administration, but no effective measures had been taken so far. "Talks are underway with the administration, but if people's safety is not ensured, coal transportation from Hazaribagh via Chatra routes will not be allowed under any circumstances," he said. "I also demand strict enforcement of transport rules and effective action against overloading and speeding," Singh added. The accident took place near Delho valley when Yadav was returning home from Simaria. He was first taken to Simaria Referral Hospital and later referred to Hazaribagh. He died while being shifted to RIMS Ranchi. Yadav, who was posted in Jammu and Kashmir, had returned home seven days ago on a month-long leave. Simaria Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Nagargoje Shubham Bhausaheb said the victim's family was demanding Rs 11 lakh compensation and talks were underway with transport companies on the issue. "Locals are also demanding stopping of coal vehicle operations on the route from Hazaribagh district. A letter has been sent to the district administration," he said. The SDPO said there were no state-level rules preventing coal vehicles from other districts from operating on the route, but administrative steps such as installation of 'No Entry' signs and speed breakers could be considered. Earlier in the day, JMM leader Manoj Chandra, the Simaria Assembly in-charge and a central committee member, along with locals, began an indefinite hunger strike at the accident site. "We are demanding two things from the administration. First, prevent the operations of coal vehicles from Hazaribagh on the route. Our second demand is that the families of people who lost their lives due to coal vehicle accidents should be given a minimum fixed compensation of Rs 11 lakh," Chandra told reporters. He alleged that coal vehicles were being driven recklessly on the Chatti-Bariatu to Simaria-Delho route and claimed that several people had lost their lives due to speeding vehicles. "The high-handedness of the transporting companies has reached its peak. Administrative officers, with the support of coal companies, are playing a role in suppressing such cases," he alleged. PTI COR RPS RG RPS MNB