In Satpuli, 1 Photographer Killed by JCB Operator

JCB Death in Satpuli Triggers Road Blockade leading to Protest

A horrifying incident in Satpuli has shaken the peaceful hill town after a young photographer was killed during a confrontation at a road construction site. The victim, Suman Devrani, was allegedly struck and killed by a Poclain machine late Saturday night while returning home from work in Satpuli. The tragedy has sparked widespread outrage among locals and led to a temporary highway blockade as demands for justice grew louder.

The incident took place on June 8 near Satpuli Malli along the National Highway 534 where road widening work is underway. Suman Devrani, aged 31 and a resident of Pauri district, was on his way back from a wedding shoot with two friends when they encountered a traffic jam near the construction zone. Devrani stepped out to speak to the operator of the machine, identified as Praveen Singh from Jyotirmath in Chamoli, and asked him to stop the work that was causing a jam.

What started as a simple request turned into a heated argument. In a shocking act of violence the operator allegedly used the machine’s bucket to hit Devrani on the head killing him on the spot. The accused fled the scene immediately leaving behind stunned eyewitnesses and a community that has since been demanding answers.

By early Sunday morning residents gathered at the site and blocked the Satpuli Gumkhal highway for about an hour. The protest saw support from local Congress workers and community leaders who called for the immediate arrest of the accused and financial help for the victim’s family. Protesters also raised serious concerns over the behavior of outside workers employed in road projects and demanded strict verification processes before hiring such staff.

Locals said this was not the first time construction workers had behaved aggressively and that previous complaints had been ignored. Community figures like Manish Khugshaal and Anuj Negi pointed out that lack of background checks has become a major concern and called for stronger action to ensure safety in the region.

Police have registered a murder case based on the complaint filed by Devrani’s friend Rajneesh Juyal who witnessed the attack. Officials including SDM Shalini Maurya and Circle Officer Trivendra Singh Rana arrived at the protest site and assured action. The body has been sent for postmortem and police say a manhunt is on to arrest the accused.

This incident has exposed serious lapses in construction site safety and raised deeper concerns about the unchecked presence of external labor in small towns. Locals say they fear rising tensions between local communities and outside workers especially when basic norms and respect are missing.

Meanwhile Devrani’s family is in deep shock. His mother Rekha Devi has raised troubling questions about the events leading up to the incident. She wants to know why her son’s route changed and who turned off his phone after the attack. As the investigation continues the family waits for justice and answers.

This tragic loss has left a scar on Satpuli and served as a painful reminder of how unchecked development and lack of accountability can turn deadly.

– Story Aaj

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