Malin Sarma's accident: Roadblock withdrawn after magistrate's assurance

Irked journalists sat on the middle of the road demanding immediate arrest of the driver who ran over journalist Malin Sarma leaving him dead on the spot. As per eyewitnesses, at around 11:00 PM last night they saw a “truck kind” of a vehicle speeding away after hitting Malin Sarma’s scooty near fire station in Tarapur.

About 25 journalists and a few local residents blocked the road demanding administration to take immediate action. They questioned the traffic control situation of the town as according to them, most of the truck drivers did not have a valid driving license. “These drivers do not have the basic understanding of road etiquette and they drive heavy vehicles in the heart of the town,” alleged a journalist.

Magistrate Jubojyoti Pathak reached the spot at around 2:50 am and spoke with the protesting journalists. He heard all the demands which included immediate arrest of the driver, prohibition of trucks’ entry through Tarapur, govenment job to Malin Sarma’s family member among many others. Pathak listed all the demands and said a further discussion will take place at DC’s office.

On the other hand, police officials found Rs 25,000, a pair of earrings from Malin Sarma’s scooter. They kept the items in their custody.

A senior journalist present in the protest said that they are highly disappointed with the administration, “A journalist died at the heart of the town. The vehicle which ran over him managed to escape successfully and there is no clue where it is. The Police did not manage to fetch the CC TV footage and for more than three hours we were protesting in the middle of the road but not a single official visited the spot. Either they were all sleeping or they simply do not care. This protest will continue and if needed we will even protest with Malin Sarma’s dead body,” said he.

Sarma was associated with BTN and lived by his wife and daughter.