Bhubaneswar: Days after a law student was arrested for allegedly mowing down a biker with his father’s Mercedes in Shastri Nagar area under the influence of alcohol, family members of the deceased, who was the lone breadwinner, protested outside the accused’s residence on Sunday, demanding compensation.Holding placards and raising slogans for justice, relatives and friends of the deceased, Debiprasad Routray (37), protested outside the home of Soumya Ranjan Rath (20) in Jayadev Vihar area. Rath, son of a Kolkata-based businessman, is in judicial custody following his arrest in connection with the fatal accident near Shastri Nagar traffic chowk on the night of July 13. Police said he was driving his father’s car under the influence of alcohol when the accident took place.Routray, an AC mechanic from Tirtol in Jagatsinghpur district, was living with his wife and daughter in Nayapalli’s Behera Sahi.“My husband was the only breadwinner. I have a seven‑year‑old daughter. Unless we get compensation, how will I raise my child?” asked Sanghamitra Jena, Routray’s grieving wife.His sister, Banasmita Routray, added: “Our family has been shattered by this tragedy. The accused will one day walk out on bail, but my brother will never return. We depended entirely on his income. The family of the accused must bear our financial responsibility.”The protesters did not specify the compensation amount but insisted that both the govt and the accused’s family should step in. The sit‑in lasted two hours before police assured them their demands would be conveyed.Family members of Rath declined to speak to the media. Police said Rath was booked under provisions of the BNS and Motor Vehicles Act, including drunk and rash driving, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and causing death by negligence.
