A 16-hour road blockade on the Itkhori-Hazaribag main road in Chatra ended on Saturday afternoon after police gave a written assurance on compensation, following a head-on collision that killed two young men and stranded Chhath travellers for hours.
The crash occurred late Friday near Surahi More when an SUV collided with a scooter carrying Sanju Yadav, 24, and Mithun Thakur, 26, police said. Both men were residents of Garukhurha village and were returning home after getting their scooter serviced in Karma.
The impact left both riders critically injured. One died at the site, while the other succumbed during treatment after local residents took him to hospital, according to the report. Police identified the deceased as Yadav and Thakur.
Soon after the accident, relatives and villagers blocked the road near Surahi More, demanding compensation for the bereaved families. The protesters sought Rs 20 lakh and a government job for one member of each family.
The blockade disrupted traffic between Chatra and Hazaribag and created long queues on both sides of the road. The disruption came as Chhath Puja travel was under way, leaving several passengers stranded for hours. Some travellers feared they would miss the evening kharna rituals, the report said.
Mayurhand block development officer Manish Kumar, Mayurhand police station officer-in-charge Rahul Kumar Dubey and Itkhori police station officer-in-charge Abhishek Kumar Singh reached the location with police personnel to negotiate with the protesters. Former MLA Umashankar Akela also joined the discussions.
The road remained blocked until deputy superintendent of police headquarters Sunil Kumar Singh issued a written assurance on compensation. Traffic resumed soon afterwards, allowing vehicles and stranded Chhath travellers to continue towards their destinations.
“The two youths died in the accident on Friday night, following which villagers blocked the road. The blockade was lifted on Saturday afternoon after an assurance on compensation,” Singh said, according to the report.
The report did not provide details of the SUV driver, the condition of any other person involved, the precise compensation process or whether a criminal case had been registered. The immediate official step recorded was the written assurance that led to the reopening of the Itkhori-Hazaribag road.
