Bhubaneswar: A pick-up van driver was allegedly beaten to death in a road rage incident in Odisha’s Sundargarh district on Friday.
The deceased has been identified as Rajesh Munda (36) of Gultha village under Bhasma police limits in Sundargarh.
Police said the incident took place in the afternoon near Khamarbahal Chowk on the Coal Corridor Road after Munda’s pickup van allegedly hit the driver of a truck parked nearby. The driver of a truck was crossing the road after parking his vehicle near Suruda Square when the van hit him.
The truck driver, identified as Mukesh Yadav of Bihar, sustained injuries on his legs. Rajesh, who was driving the pick-up van, stopped the vehicle and attended to the injured truck driver, sources said.
Following the incident, a group of around 20 truck drivers, who were in the vicinity, reportedly gathered at the spot and attacked Rajesh with an iron rod. He sustained grievous injuries in the attack.
The injured driver was rushed to NTPC Medical College, where he was declared dead, a senior police officer said.
DIG (Western Range) Brijesh Kumar Rai said three truck drivers were arrested in connection with the incident, and efforts were underway to apprehend others suspected to be involved.
The three arrested accused are reported to be from Bihar. They have been booked on murder charges, police said.
