Trouble Mounts For BJD: Journalist Killed As Former Sarpanch’s Car Runs Over 2 Persons In Odisha’s Angul

Angul: A day after two violent incidents, the ruling BJD ran into more trouble after the vehicle belonging to former sarpanch Namita Pradhan, said to be associated with the party, crushed two persons under his wheels, killing one of them in Odisha’s Angul district on Sunday.

It is, however, still unclear who was driving the vehicle during the accident.

According to sources, the speeding car en route Bajrakot from Kaniha ran over two persons, standing along the road. Both of them were seriously injured in the incident and rushed to the district headquarters hospital. One of them succumbed while undergoing treatment in the hospital.

The deceased has been identified as Sushant Dhal, a journalist. The other person, identified as Sarat Jena, is still under treatment at the hospital.

Following the incident, the driver of the car managed to flee while irate locals damaged the vehicle and set it on fire. They also staged a road blockade at Bajrakot demanding immediate arrest of the accused and compensation for the deceased journalist.

On being informed, police rushed to the spot to pacify the agitated people. A case has been registered and an investigation is underway.

Notably, suspended BJD MLA from Chilika, Prashant Jagadev’s vehicle had ploughed into the crowd at Banpur, leaving 22 persons, including 10 police personnel, injured on Saturday. Seven of them have been shifted to Bhubaneswar hospital after their condition turned critical. Jagadev too is hospitalised after a mob attacked him following the incident.

In another incident late on Friday, family members of a BJP corporator candidate for the ULB elections were allegedly beaten up mercilessly by some BJD workers in Bhubaneswar. All the injured are undergoing treatment in a hospital in the city.