The arrest sparked widespread resentment among the villagers, who met Dera Bassi Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) later to seek his release. “Either release Romi or arrest us all,” Karam Singh, the father of Friday’s accident victim, told SDM Punnet Goyal. They threatened to block traffic on the expressway again and damage to the public property “notwithstanding the consequences whatsoever arises thereof”.

Police later produced Romi before a local court, which remanded him in 14-day judicial custody. The villagers later sought help of area MLA and senior Punjab Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh but could not meet him. “We will wait to meet him and if nothing substantial comes out of it, we will hold a massive agitation,” a villager said.