Sambalpur: Even as the deaths of two BJP leaders, who were killed in a car-truck collision on Sunday, remains a mystery, Sambalpur police on Monday said that the driver of the truck “deliberately” caused the accident with the intention of killing the BJP leaders.
Speaking to the media here today, Sambalpur SP Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo said, “From the evidences we have gathered so far, it seems that the truck driver hit the car intentionally. We have registered a case against him accordingly. We are collecting other scientific evidence. We are also questioning some of his associates. Everything will become clear by this evening.”
In reply to a question, the Sambalpur SP said, “We are examining the CCTV footages and interrogating the truck driver but he is giving different replies to the same question at different times. Now, we are trying to find his nature and since when he has been driving this truck. We need another 5-7 hours to ascertain things and will be able to give you a statement in the evening.”
It may be mentioned here that two BJP leaders – Devendra Nayak, BJP Mandal President of Goshala, and a resident of Kardola village, and Muralidhar Chhuria, a BJP leader from Charapali village – were killed after a truck hit the car in which they were travelling on NH-53 in Sambalpur district around 1.30 am on January 5. The fatal accident took place when they were returning to Chipilima from the former MLA’s residence in Bhubaneswar.
Police have arrested the truck driver, identified as Prasanna Jenamani (30) of Athmallik area in Angul district.
Suresh Chanda, an occupant of the car who was injured in the collision, told the police that the truck hit their car from behind twice. Suspecting foul play, the car driver took a narrower village road, but the truck still followed them and hit the car again near Kantapalli Square. The car overturned after the third collision.
