Crime News / Truck Driver Attacked Over Past Enmity in Ganjam

Brahmapur, Oct 5: A 28-year-old truck driver was allegedly attacked by a group of people over past enmity in front of Tahanr panchayat office under Hinjili police station limits in Ganjam district, following which the truck he was driving caught fire after colliding with a motorcycle.

The victim has been identified as Brundaban Mehena, a resident of Tahanr village.

According to his family, Brundaban was attacked on Sunday night while he was near a shop in the village. His mother and sister were also allegedly assaulted when they went to the spot after learning about the attack.

Brundaban’s brother Kanhu Mehena alleged that the dispute dated back around five years.

“The past enmity emerged five years ago. We were hosting a feast during Ganesh Puja. At the same time, our opponents in the village were taking out a DJ procession. They allege that my brother had stabbed one of them. Due to this, my brother was not able to enter the village since then,” Kanhu said.

According to Kanhu, Brundaban had been working as a truck driver in Brahmapur and had returned to the village to meet their mother.

“My brother was driving a truck in Brahmapur. He came to the village to meet our mother. While he was buying something from a shop, the assailants came and pulled him from behind using a towel. They beat him with an iron rod. He fell unconscious for a brief moment. When I and my mother intervened, they also assaulted us,” he alleged.

Truck Catches Fire After Collision
Kanhu alleged that Brundaban tried to flee the spot to save himself and get into his truck.

“While my brother was escaping the scene to save his life, the truck collided with a bike and hence it caught fire,” he said.

The collision resulted in both the motorcycle and truck catching fire. Hinjili police and fire services personnel reached the spot and brought the blaze under control.

The motorcycle rider reportedly had a narrow escape but sustained injuries. He was shifted to Hinjili Sub-District Hospital (SDH), where he is undergoing treatment.

Police have begun an investigation into the alleged assault, the collision and the subsequent fire. The circumstances leading to the incident, including the allegations of a group attack and the past dispute, are being examined.