Bhadrak: In a shocking incident, a truck driver allegedly abducted a mentally challenged woman from Charampa on National Highway-16 under Bhadrak Town Police limits in Odisha, police said on Friday.
The entire incident, which reportedly took place on Thursday night, was captured on a CCTV camera installed near the spot. The incident sparked widespread outrage after the footage went viral.
Sources said the woman had taken shelter under the veranda of a roadside shop near Charampa Square when the incident occurred. A truck stopped at the location, and moments later, the driver was seen forcibly taking the woman into the vehicle and then driving away.
Police have launched a search operation to trace both the victim and the accused driver. Efforts are on to identify the truck through highway surveillance footage and transport records.
Preliminary findings indicate the woman is reportedly not in a stable mental condition, and a truck driver forcibly abducted her. A case has been registered, and the Truck Drivers’ Association is also being questioned as part of the investigation, a senior police official said.
Voicing concern over the incident, local residents have urged the authorities to increase vigilance and ensure that vulnerable locations are properly monitored to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Police have appealed to the public to report any leads that could help in rescuing the woman or tracking the culprit.
