Death of a student in Byndihati
JOWAI: Hundreds of women from Byndihati and surrounding villages accompanied by students from the area closed down the weighbridge run by the transport department and blocked the road for hours at Byndihati on Friday.
The women alleged that the weighbridge was causing heavy traffic jam in the area besides leading to frequent accidents.
West Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner, WR Lyngdoh along with the district SP and Additional SP had to rush to the spot to take stock of the situation and brought things under control only hours later with the help of the local headman.
According to a senior police official form East Jaintia Hills, the death of a student from Byndihati village on Friday afternoon led to the incident.
“A coal laden truck (AS01CE-3057) hit a Maruti car (ML04-5066) from behind killing the driver of the vehicle, a B.Com student identified as Franky Lyngdoh (24), son of Maising Shylla of Byndihati village on the spot. A class XII student, Soky Tlang (21) escaped with critical injuries,” police sources said. The vehicle was proceeding to Byndihati from Khliehriat when tragedy struck.
About three hours after the road mishap, hundreds of women including members of the Seng Longkmie, Byndihati and nearby villages gheraoed the weighbridge and blocked the road for few hours.
The women demanded that the weighbridge be shifted to another location.
It may be mentioned here that the weighbridge at Byndihati was recently notified by the National Green Tribunal as one of the weighbridge to be used for transportation of coal particularly to cement plants.
The weighbridge run by the transport department has been leased out to an individual.