Ranchi: A speeding truck ran over a couple from West Bengal in Barenda area of Ranchi district on Sunday morning, police said.Police identified the deceased as Ramesh Mahto, 53, and his wife, Sindhu Bala, 42, residents of Kushi Papadahudum village under Jhalda police station limits in Bengal’s Purulia district.The couple had travelled to a village near Barenda to attend the last rites of a relative. On Sunday morning, they were waiting by the roadside on their motorcycle to return home when an iron-laden truck hit them. Sindhu was dragged for some distance and died on the spot. Ramesh was taken to a hospital in Bundu, where he succumbed to his injuries.The incident triggered protests, with locals blocking traffic at Barounda Chowk for nearly six hours and disrupting vehicular movement towards Jamshedpur. Residents blocked the road around 9 am, demanding the arrest of the truck driver and compensation for the victims’ family.Sonahatu police station officer in-charge Prem Pradeep said the truck was seized after a chase, but the driver managed to flee. “Steps will be taken to arrest him. The affected family will receive compensation from the vehicle’s insurance,” he said.The residents lifted the blockade after the administration assured them of action on their demands.
