Crime News / Passenger Drugged, Robbed On Bhubaneswar-Baripada Bus

Baripada, Sep 5: A passenger travelling from Bhubaneswar to Soro in a private bus was allegedly drugged and robbed after an unidentified man befriended him during the journey, a source said on Saturday.

According to the source, the incident took place late Friday night aboard a private passenger bus named ‘Sankalp’. The victim, Biswaranjan Das, had boarded the bus from Bhubaneswar at around 9:35pm to travel to Soro in Baleshwar district.

Biswaranjan was physically weak as he had been suffering from jaundice. An unidentified youth, who had allegedly been following Biswaranjan, befriended him by claiming that he worked at a hotel in Digha and hailed from Madhya Pradesh. The man reportedly boarded the same bus.

During the journey, the youth allegedly got off the bus near Link Road in Kataka and returned with a cold drink and Sugarfree biscuits, which he offered to Biswaranjan.

The passenger reportedly lost consciousness some time after consuming the food and drink. He was scheduled to get off at Soro between 1am and 2am. However, after finding him unconscious, the bus staff reportedly assumed that he was intoxicated and took him to Sarasakana in Mayurbhanj district. While returning, they dropped him off at Baripada.

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The unconscious passenger later reached a relative’s house with the help of an auto-rickshaw driver. Biswaranjan's family immediately took him to a hospital, where doctors admitted him for treatment.

Doctors reportedly said the passenger’s condition was critical and kept him under observation for next 24 hours. He may be shifted to a hospital in Kataka if required, they said.

Gold Ring, Cash And Phone Missing
Biswaranjan's family alleged that the victim was robbed of cash amounting to around Rs 20,000-Rs 25,000, a mobile phone and a gold ring.

Family Questions Bus Staff
The victim’s uncle, Akshay Ranjan Das, questioned why the bus staff did not inform police or take the passenger to a hospital after finding him unconscious.

“Once a passenger boards a bus, the safety of the passenger is the responsibility of the bus officials. Despite knowing that the youth was unconscious near Baleshwar, why did the bus staff not inform the police or admit him to a hospital? This raises a serious question,” Das said.

He said the family has urged the administration to take strict action against the bus owner and staff for their alleged negligence and ensure the immediate arrest of those responsible for the robbery.