Boy crushed to death, locals block Highway  

BHUBANESWAR: Vehicular traffic came to a grinding halt on National Highway (NH)-16 for nearly two hours after a young boy was crushed to death by a speeding trailer truck near Gangapada on Saturday evening. Irate locals blocked the NH demanding compensation for the kin of the victim and it left traffic movement crippled till 9 pm. The protest led to a long queue of vehicles stranded on both sides of the highway. Even small vehicles proceeding towards Jatni had a hard time.

Even though Commissionerate Police tried to pacify the agitators, the locals did not relent till district officials reached the spot.  Trouble started when a cargo truck from Nagaland ran over an 11-year-old boy Babuna Das who was riding pillion with his uncle Rankanidhi Das and cousin Rashmita Jethi on a bike.
According to police, the incident occurred at 6.30 pm when Rankanidhi Das, on his way from Bhubaneswar to Gangapada, took a U-turn on the NH. The trailer truck, which was coming from Khurda, hit their bike from behind, killing Babuna on the spot. It also ran over both the legs of Rashmita who has been admitted to a city hospital.  Rankanidhi escaped with minor injuries. The driver of the truck managed to flee after the accident.

The enraged locals blocked the NH and demanded adequate ex gratia for the victims’ family. The agitators also said the district administration had long ignored their demand for a service road along the NH since the underpass has been of no help for people commuting towards Gangapada.Though the city cops tried to pacify the locals, they paid no heed. It was only when Sub-Collector Manas Samal reached the spot that the locals relented. Police sources said Rashmita’s injuries are so serious that her legs may need amputation. In another incident, an elderly man, Anama Moharana (68), died on Saturday after being hit by a motorcycle in Dhauli area.

Bus owners serve Oct 31 deadline
Bhubaneswar: The All-Orissa Bus Owners’ Association has served October 31 deadline to the State Government to fulfil its five-point charter of demands failing which the operators will resort to strike from November 1. At an emergency meeting of the general body here on Saturday, the association said the Government has not responded to its demands which promoted them to take to the step. The association has been seeking a review of collection of toll from bus passengers at toll plazas. It has also objected to non-consideration of 12 parameters except diesel price that the State Government takes into account for determining bus fare. Similarly, harassment by police, who detain buses for verification of documents and permitting city buses to ply on NHs, are other issues on which the association has been demanding solution.