The alleged lynching of a man on Tuesday night sparked protests in Naxalbari block of Siliguri subdivision on Wednesday, including a blockade on Asian Highway II at Hatighisa, some 20km from here, for nearly five hours.

Sources said on Tuesday evening, Sudhir Nagasia, 38, from the Bijoynagar-Jharujote area of the block, was returning home with his four-year-old son from a health centre in a pick-up van. While crossing Muribusty, a locality near Hatighisa in Naxalbari, the vehicle met with an accident with a local resident.

An altercation ensued. Soon, a group of youths attacked Nagasia.

“He was mercilessly beaten up. When we got information, we rushed to the spot. He was taken to the block hospital in Naxalbari and shifted to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital. Later at night, he died,” said Patras Tirkey, a Jharujote resident.

As the news spread, hundreds of people from Nagasia’s area walked into Asian Highway II around 7.30am. They burnt tyres and raised a blockade, demanding immediate arrest of all those involved in the attack.

Some agitators walked into Muribusty, where Radha Roy, the main accused, lives. They ransacked houses in the area.

Police officers, along with RAF and other personnel, went to the area and brought the situation under control.

The blockade, however, continued on the highway, which connects Panitanki, the transit point to Nepal.

Senior officers, along with Arun Ghosh, the sabhadhipati of Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad, spoke with the protesters and assured the arrest of the accused. Around 12.30pm, the blockade was finally withdrawn.

Later in the day, Praween Prakash, the superintendent of police of Darjeeling, said they arrested Roy, the principal accused, from Panitanki.