Villagers Block NH-18 in Galudih Protesting Tara Pado Mahato’s Murder, Demand Arrests and Security

Brief By Newsbrief / 4:17 PM on 17 Jan 2026

Villagers in Galudih have blocked National Highway NH-18 in protest against the murder of Tara Pado Mahato. The blockade took place on the fifth day after the murder, as the victim’s last rites had still not been performed. Villagers claim that no concrete action has been taken in the case so far, and therefore they are blocking the road to voice their protest.They are demanding the immediate arrest of all the accused and security for the victim’s family. The villagers allege that the administration and police have been inactive in the matter, which has increased anger and unrest among the people.The police have deployed heavy forces to control the situation, but despite this, the road was blocked near Putru village. The blockade caused long queues of vehicles, creating severe inconvenience for the public.Police officials have appealed to the people to maintain peace and said that the accused have been identified and will be arrested soon. However, the villagers have stated that they will continue their protest until the accused are arrested and the family receives security. Meanwhile, pressure on the administration is increasing, and the law-and-order situation in the area remains tense.