Poonam was killed by Santosh Chaudhary (Kalwar), who was madly in one-sided love with her, on Wednesday. [break]
Irate locals blocked the East-West Highway from early Friday morning burning tires in major thoroughfares in Siraha. They allowed vehicles, which were stranded on the highway for more than seven hours, to run only after police agreed to arrest all those who assisted Santosh in killing Poonam.
An emergency meeting of local security officials, which was called after locals came out on the streets, had decided to not use force.
On Thursday, police had arrested three persons on the charge of assisting Santosh in killing 17-year-old Poonam.
However, they were released shortly after police nabbed Santosh himself, which enraged locals. "Since all accomplices were released without investigation, this has left room suspecting police intentions," said Hari Narayan Chaudhary, Siraha in-charge of the (Maoists).
An 11th grader at Janata Secondary School, Santosh, 19, had stabbed Poonam to death after he heard that she was going to tie the knot with someone else. Santosh was in one-sided love with Poonam since he was at the eighth grade.
"It was difficult for me to see Poonam with somebody else," Santosh, who is now in police custody, told journalists. "But, now I am regretting what I did to her."
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