Brahmapur: A history-sheeter was arrested in Ganjam district on Sunday for allegedly confining and assaulting a driver who refused to transport ganja, police said.
The month-old incident came to light after a purported video of the assault surfaced on social media on Saturday, triggering public outrage.
The accused, identified as R. Sibaram alias R. Arup of Pratap Krushna Chandrapur in Brahmapur, was arrested after a case was registered at the Brahmapur Sadar police station.
According to the police, the victim, Prasant Das of Krupasindhupur village, alleged in his complaint that Sibaram had asked him to drive a vehicle for the illegal transportation of ganja. When he refused, the accused allegedly confined him in a room and assaulted him with a fibre rod.
ASP (Brahmapur) Alok Jena said the accused has at least three criminal cases registered against him. He said a case has been registered under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Das, who belongs to the Dalit community, told the police that he delayed lodging the complaint as he feared for his life.
Police also seized a pen drive containing the purported video of the incident. Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused and the victim were known to each other.
The ASP said efforts are underway to identify and arrest other persons allegedly involved in the incident.
