MF AHMAD
Daltonganj, Feb 23: The Latehar police have requisitioned the Ranchi’s Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team to explore the hyva truck burning incident in which the driver was burnt alive. The driver, Roop Lal Mahto (28), was from Hazaribag.
Stating this, Balumath SDPO Ajit Kumar said that the police have also pressed the Fire Officer Latehar to carry on its investigation as the whole case looks very enigmatic.
A 14-wheel hyva truck was found torched and its driver roasted alive in the driver’s seat in Phulbasiya coal siding late last night.
Latehar SP Anjani Anjan said, “I reached the spot under the Baariyatu police station and was saddened and surprised to see this incident.”
The fire looks very mysterious, he said.
The incident, at first sight, didn’t look like any handiwork of the Naxals or of the criminals as the hyva truck was in a breakdown condition since Feb 20 at the Phulbasiya coal siding.
Sources said the gearbox of the hyva truck was dysfunctional.
On being asked if this could be a freak accident to which Anjani Anjan SP Latehar said, “It can’t be ruled out. Our investigation is open. We are exploring every angle.”
The hyva truck was used to transport coal from Magadh colliery to Phulbasiya coal siding but for the last three days, it was just out of gear and parked for a technical problem with the gearbox.
