Bhubaneswar: Delivery boys in Odisha are being increasingly involved in crimes, either as perpetrators or as victims.
Several delivery boys of major companies such as Zomato, Swiggy, Flipkart have been booked for fraud, assault and cheating among others. On the other hand, several have fallen prey to attacks, snatchings and even murder.
In the latest incident, a Swiggy delivery boy from Bhubaneswar was arrested for faking his kidnapping and eloping with his girlfriend. The man, who is married and has a kid, and his lover were arrested in Madhya Pradesh. Police have brought them back to Bhubaneswar for interrogation.
Also Read: ‘Fake’ Kidnapping: Swiggy Delivery Boy, Girlfriend Brought To Bhubaneswar
Here are some more criminal cases involving delivery boys in Odisha
Body In Building
Earlier this month, police recovered the body of an online delivery boy from a dilapidated building near Biju Patnaik College in Bhubaneswar. Some morning walkers had spotted the body and alerted police. Police suspect the youth was murdered and his body dumped on the building premises.
Also Read: Delivery Boy Found Dead In Bhubaneswar, Cops Suspect Murder
Besides Odisha, fracas involving delivery boys have made news elsewhere in the country too.
Charge & Counter
Earlier this year, a Bengaluru woman had accused a Zomato delivery executive of assaulting her that left her nose bleeding in an online video. On the other hand, the delivery person, who was suspended by Zomato after the complaint, counter-charged that the woman had abused and assaulted him and refused to pay the bill. Than man’s version of the events later went viral on social media, with the hash-tag #ZomatoDeliveryBoy trending on Twitter.
Also Read: Assault On Woman: Zomato Delivery Boy’s Counter Charge Goes Viral; Here’s What He Said
Soaps For Laptop
Coming Back To Odisha, a Flipkart delivery boy was arrested in Bhubaneswar for allegedly stealing laptop and mobile phone worth lakhs of rupees. Police said the accused used to order mobile phones and laptop as a customer and later return those, claiming that the products delivered were different from the orders placed, but by replacing them with soap packets.
Also Read: Delivery Boy In Bhubaneswar Replaces Cellphones With Soap Packets, Arrested
Tax Fraud!
A delivery boy working with a private company in Rourkela has received a summon notice for alleged Rs 10 lakh tax fraud. According to sources, a fake company was set up in the name of the delivery agent and fraudulent transactions of over Rs 70 lakh were carried out.
Also Read: Rs 10 Lakh GST Fraud By Delivery Boy In Rourkela!
Capital Loot
Earlier, three miscreants had attacked and looted an online delivery boy near Patharabandha in the Odisha capital. According to sources, the incident took place when the victim was on his way to deliver an order.
Also Read: Delivery Boy Attacked, Looted In Bhubaneswar
Scuffle & Hospital
A delivery boy was hospitalised with grievous injuries he sustained when he tried to fight two miscreants who snatched his mobile phone in Bhubaneswar. According to sources, the delivery boy was going back home after work when two bike-borne miscreants kicked his bike and snatched his phone.
Also Read: Delivery Boy Hospitalised After Scuffle With Mobile Phone Snatchers In Bhubaneswar
Found Dead
Police found the body of a delivery boy working for Flipkart lying on a lane in Bhawanipatna of Kalahandi district. Police suspect that the 22-year-old victim was stabbed to death by some miscreants.
Also Read: Flipkart Delivery Boy Found Dead In Odisha’s Bhawanipatna