Dhenkanal: Police have arrested a truck driver for allegedly trying to molest a college student at Gadaplasuni in Parjanga police station limits.

An FIR in this connection was filed by the student at Mahabir Road outpost on Tuesday evening. The police registered a case of molestation under the Pocso Act and arrested the errant driver on charge of molestation. He has been identified as Kuna Singh of Tainsiri village of Bhuban.

The police said the girl, a 17-year-old Plus Two student, was returning home on Tuesday afternoon on a bicycle. The accused, finding her alone, intercepted and overpowered her. He was trying to strangulate and molest the girl. When the girl raised an alarm, local people saw her being dragged by the driver. They rushed to the spot, and the accused fled in his truck.

The girl told her family members about the incident, and the police were subsequently informed. On receiving the complaint, the police rounded up all truck drivers engaged in road construction in that area and the girl identified the culprit. "We arrested the driver on the basis of the identification made by the girl," said a police officer.