Cuttack, June 11: Two persons were arrested today for allegedly attacking and looting an auto-rickshaw driver in the city.
The accused have been identified as Balia Behera and Ramchandra Moharana of Machhuabazar area.
Police sources said the duo, along with two others, had attacked an the victim and had looted cash and other valuables last night.
Auto-rickshaw driver Ratnakar Pradhan, who sustained severe injuries on his neck, is being treated at Sriram Chandra Bhanja Medical College and Hospital here.
Police sources said that the incident occurred last midnight when Pradhan was on his way to a petrol-filling station near Howrah Motors.
“Four persons, in the guise of passengers, asked me to drop them near Matamatha. Later, they attacked me and looted Rs 1,500 and escaped after silting my throat with a knife. They also took my auto-rickshaw,” said Pradhan.
According to Pradhan, he, along with two of his friends (both auto-rickshaw drivers), was on their way to a petrol filling station after one of his friend’s three-wheeler ran out of fuel near Badambadi.
Pradhan, who hails from Dhenkanal district, has been staying at Kazipatna area in the city for the last three years.
“One of my friend’s auto-rickshaw had run out of petrol near Badambadi. Later, we decided to purchase fuel from the Howrah Motors petrol pump, which remains open all night,” he said.
“The goons stopped my auto-rickshaw near the LIC office at Mangalabag and asked me to drop them near Matamath. Within a few minutes, they asked me to hand over the cash and my mobile phone and attacked me with a sharp weapon,” Pradhan said adding that he immediately went to the local police station and was later rushed to the hospital by the cops.
“We have arrested two persons involved in the incident under Section 395 of the Indian Penal Code and further investigation is on,” said a senior official of Managalabag police station.
Police said the Rs 1,500 cash looted from the auto driver and the auto-rickshaw has been recovered. Efforts were on to nab two other accused.
