Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Oct 18: An old woman was knocked to death at Patli Morh on Jammu –Pathankote National Highway in Vijaypur tehsil of Samba district early this morning evoking wide spread protests in the area with hundreds of people blocking the National Highway for two hours.
The woman has been identified as Shanti Devi, wife of late Bansi Lal of village Gowal of Vijaypur tehsil. The woman who was crossing the road was run over by a speeding super fast bus bearing number JK08B-0045 which was on its way from Kathua to Jammu.
This evoked wide spread protests in the area with hundreds of people from village Gowal and surrounding villages held a massive demonstration and blocked the Jammu –Pathankote National Highway for two hours.
The protestors raising slogans against the administration said this was not the first accidental death on this road but a large number of people were crushed to death at this particular spot since the four lanning of National Highway.
BJP senior vice president, Chander Parkash Ganga who also rushed to the spot soon after the accident said that the crossing constructed at Patli More was not proper and often the accidents take place at this spot. He demanded that crossing should be constructed along the National Highway on the very spot instead of 100 metres ahead.
The protestors warned not to lift the road blockade till their demand are settled on spot. They also did not allow police to lift the dead body. The protestors accused the transport authorities of not maintaining a proper check on the local transport and take action against those drivers who run vehicles in a high speed.
Later, the DC Samba, R K Varma along with ADC, ACR and DIG Jammu reached the spot to pacify the agitating mob. They assured the protestors that Government will redress the problem soon. On the assurance of DC the blockade was lifted and protestors dispersed peacefully.
The Bari Brahmana Police has seized the bus and arrested its driver. The Police has also registered a case against the driver while the dead body was handed over to its family members after post mortem.
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