Dumka: A nine-year-old girl was killed after being hit by a speeding SUV on the Govindpur-Sahibganj main road in Jamtara district on Sunday, triggering protests and a three-hour blockade. The deceased was identified as Sajda Khatun of Koridih Van village.Locals said that Sajda was returning home after taking a bath in a pond when a white SUV hit her on the stretch throwing her several feet away. The driver fled immediately after the accident.Family members and villagers rushed the critically injured girl to Narayanpur community health centre. After primary treatment, doctors referred her to a Dhanbad hospital. However, she died on the way.As news of her death spread, angry villagers blocked the road around 11 am, disrupting traffic for nearly three hours. Vehicles were stranded on both sides of the road as protesters demanded arrest of the accused driver and compensation for the victim’s family.Narayanpur police station officer in-charge Murad Hasan reached the spot with police personnel and persuaded protesters to lift the blockade after assuring legal action and govt compensation.“Efforts are underway to identify the absconding driver by scanning CCTV footage from the area. A case will be registered against the unidentified driver,” the OC stated.
