Bihar: Truck driver's helper killed for refusing to pay extortion

SASARAM: The cleaner or ‘khalasi’ of a sand-laden truck was shot dead in Rohtas district late Sunday night for refusing to pay extortion money demanded by criminals at a government checkpost. The incident took place on Pali road under Dehri-on-Sone police station area. The 25-year-old deceased was identified as Suraj Kumar.

Rohtas SP Satyaveer Singh said preliminary investigations revealed that the magistrate deputed to check illegal sand mining was not present at the checkpost manned by representatives of the lessee, who allegedly shot the cleaner in his head. “An FIR has been lodged and a special investigation team (SIT) formed to nab the accused,” the SP said on Monday.

Police sources said the 14-wheel truck (UP53ET-7734), loaded with sand at Dehri, was on way to Gorakhpur. Sources said the men at the checkpost asked driver Chandan Kumar and cleaner Suraj to pay Rs10,000 to cross the checkpost with sand. Their refusal to pay led to heated exchange of words during which one of the accused allegedly entered the driver’s cabin and shot at Suraj. He died on the spot. The body was later sent to Sasaram Sadar hospital for autopsy.

On June 10, 2018, on the written statement of the then SHO of Dalmianagar police station Dhiraj Kumar, a named FIR was lodged against the mining inspector and the representatives of lessees for extorting money from sand-laden trucks.

The truckers’ unions of Rohtas and Kaimur districts have also lodged protests in the past against extortion by ‘private checkers’ (representatives of lessees) at all the five checkposts in the twin districts. They alleged that CCTV cameras have not been installed at any checkpost.

Rohtas truck operators’ union president Vinay Singh told this newspaper on Monday that he had given several representations to the DM, SP and DIG, seeking action against the lessee representatives involved in extortion from the sand-laden trucks, but to no avail.