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After a youngster was killed during a confrontation between members of two groups in Jharkhand’s Hazaribag district, an enraged crowd set fire to six vehicles.

Protesters also stopped National Highway No 2 along the Barhi-GT route, demanding R 5 lakh in compensation for the teenager’s family as well as prosecution under the Mob Lynching Act 2021. However, following repeated appeals from the authorities, the barrier was released late in the day.

Rupesh Kumar Pandey, 17 years old, died after being beaten during an immersion parade after Saraswati Puja on Sunday evening at Kariyadpur hamlet in the Barhi police station region of the district, according to Hazaribag Superintendent of Police.

Along with many unknown people, a named FIR has been filed against 27 people. Four people have been arrested so far, with others being pursued. In Barhi, prohibition orders have been issued under section 144.

Superintendent of Police, Hazaribag Manoj Ratan Chothe, said, “Adequate deployment of personnel has been done to maintain law and order.”

The young man was allegedly assaulted near Dulmuha Devi Mandap, resulting in his death at the Barhi Sub Divisional Hospital, where he was transported unconscious.

Following the murder, an enraged mob set fire to five two-wheelers and one four-wheeler on the spot.

Chothe, on the other hand, stated that the clash was the result of a “ancient rivalry” and that no communal animosity was involved.

“During the battle, one person was thrashed and another was killed. Both of them belonged to two distinct communities, by the way. The matter is being investigated by the police “SP informed me.

Due to the district’s communally sensitive nature, internet services have been temporarily halted throughout the district, as well as in Koderma, Giridih, Chatra, Ramgarh, and Bokaro, to avoid rumour-mongering, Chothe stated.

He also stated that the crisis in Kariyadpur village had been resolved.

Some are attempting to link the event to Sunday’s statue immersion ceremony of Goddess Saraswati, whose procession left just 30 minutes before the brawl erupted, but the two are unrelated, according to the SP.

Aditya Kumar Anand, the SP and Deputy Commissioner of Hazaribag, is camping at the scene.

The boy’s relatives have asked for action under the Prevention of Mob Violence and Mob Lynching Bill, 2021, which aims to provide “adequate protection” of people’s constitutional rights and avoid mob violence.

The Hazaribag district administration has declared an immediate monetary compensation of Rs 20,000 for the boy’s family, as well as a lifetime annuity of Rs 6,000 for the boy’s mother and father.

Meanwhile, BJP Vice President and former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Raghubar Das has sought the quick arrest of the perpetrators, alleging that similar incidences have escalated dramatically under the current Hemant Soren regime.

Md Aslam, Md Anis, Md Kaif, Md Gufran, Md Chand, Md Osama, Md Ehtam, and Md Nahid are among those listed in the FIR.

To denounce the killing, all shops in the Barhi police station nearby, as well as other commercial establishments, stayed closed.

Due to the internet outage, work in banks and other institutions was hampered.

After receiving approval from the state Home Department, officials claimed internet services in North Chotanagpur Division would be restored.

Officials say the situation is still tense but under control.