Pokland Operator Who Killed Youth Over Road Request on NH-534 Arrested Within 72 Hours

In a swift and decisive operation, Uttarakhand Police have arrested Pokland operator Praveen Barthwal, who was accused of brutally murdering a local youth with a machine bucket on National Highway 534 near Satpuli. The shocking incident, which unfolded on the night of May 7, had left the region reeling with grief and outrage.

Addressing the press, SSP Pauri Lokeshwar Singh detailed the events that led to the arrest. At approximately 11:30 PM, Suman Devrani, a young resident of Dadamandi, was travelling from Gumkhal to Satpuli with a friend. As the road was being cut and blocked due to construction near Satpuli Malli, Suman politely requested the Pokland operator to clear the way so they could pass.

What should have been a simple interaction escalated fatally. The operator, Praveen Barthwal, allegedly flew into a violent rage during the argument and, in a horrifying act of aggression, attacked Suman with the bucket of the Pokland machine, killing him on the spot.

Following the incident, the accused fled the scene, leaving the heavy machinery running and the local community in shock. Police promptly registered FIR No. 06/2025 under Section 103 (1) of the BNS at Satpuli police station, launching an intensive investigation.

Investigators gathered critical evidence from the crime scene and questioned employees of the construction firm involved in the NH widening project. Acting on this intelligence, a team tracked down Praveen Barthwal to Yamunanagar, Haryana, and apprehended him late Monday night.

The accused has since been produced before the court, marking a significant step forward in a case that had stirred public emotions and drawn attention to the dangers of unmanaged construction zones.

The incident raised serious concerns about safety protocols at highway construction sites and the psychological screening and training of heavy machinery operators, especially on narrow hill roads where local movement continues alongside ongoing infrastructure work.

Local residents, who had earlier blocked roads in protest following the murder, have welcomed the arrest but continue to demand stronger oversight and accountability from the private infrastructure firms involved, especially Shri Kalyan Shivalik Infra, the company overseeing the widening project.

The Uttarakhand Police’s quick action and successful arrest within 72 hours has drawn commendation, but the tragedy continues to echo as a stark reminder of what unchecked rage and negligence can lead to on public roads