Death Of 2 BJP Leaders In ‘Planned’ Accident In Odisha: Truck Driver Sent On 3-Day Police Remand

Sambalpur: Two days after the death of two BJP leaders in a road accident in Odisha’s Sambalpur, the driver of the truck that rammed into the victims’ car was sent on police remand for three days.

Sources said that police want to uncover the truth through custodial interrogation of driver Prasanna Jenamani, who has been changing his statements. His changing narratives have raised suspicion. The 30-year-old truck driver hails from Athmallik area in Angul district.

The court of the Judicial Magistrate of First Class (JMFC) authorised a three-day custody period, following an initial request for seven days by Burla police.

The police are trying to ascertain the potential motives behind the incident. Key questions include whether the driver acted independently or if others were involved. There are also concerns that the BJP leaders may have been targeted due to their opposition to illegal fly ash shipments or other reasons yet to be clarified.

Earlier on Monday, the police confirmed that the dumper had “intentionally” hit the vehicle of two BJP leaders in Sambalpur district. “From the video footage, it appears that the driver of the truck had hit the car intentionally. A case has been registered accordingly. We are collecting other scientific evidence. Some of his associates are also being questioned,” Sambalpur SP Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo has said.

The accident took at 1.30 am on Sunday on NH 53 under Burla police limits when a group of six, including the driver, was returning to Chipilima from Bhubaneswar. Debendra Nayak, BJP’s Goshala mandal president, and Muralidhar Chhuria, a former sarpanch, died in the crash, while two others sustained critical injuries.

It was earlier alleged that the truck hit the car three times and toppled it off the road. Rohan Nayak, son of Devendra Nayak and a doctor by profession, had lodged a complaint with police, claiming the same.

Suresh Chanda, one of the injured, also told the media that the car veered onto a rural road near Kantapalli Square after being hit the first time, but the truck driver allegedly chased the vehicle and rammed into it again, following which it overturned. “I believe it was intentional. By mistake, one can hit a vehicle once, but why hit it thrice?” he asked.