Kakopathar: Two young men died on the spot after a speeding Bolero vehicle allegedly rammed into their stationary motorcycle at Lajum village in Assam’s Kakopathar late on Friday night during the ongoing Bihu celebrations.
The deceased have been identified as Pranajit Das, a resident of Kakopathar and goalkeeper of the Kakopathar Football Coaching Centre, and Shashank Moran of Teji village.
According to eyewitness accounts and local reports, the two youths were sitting on a motorcycle parked by the roadside when a high-speed Bolero vehicle bearing registration number 01 V 0399, coming from the Kakopathar direction, hit them.
Both victims succumbed to their injuries instantly. Local residents immediately shifted the bodies to a hospital with the help of bystanders, but doctors declared them dead on arrival.
The driver of the Bolero, who was reportedly in an inebriated condition, has been taken into custody by Doomdooma Police. The vehicle has been seized.
Enraged over the incident, locals launched a road blockade protest in Kakopathar from early Saturday morning.
Protesters burnt tyres on the highway and demanded immediate justice, along with proper rehabilitation and compensation for the families of the deceased.
As of now, the situation remains tense near Kakopathar Police Station on National Highway 15 (NH-15), where the road blockade continues.
Thousands of vehicles are stranded on both sides of the highway, causing major traffic disruption in the region.
Authorities have been urged to intervene and restore normalcy while ensuring that the demands of the protesters are addressed. Further details are awaited.