A shocking incident unfolded along the Cuttack-Puri bypass in Odisha capital Bhubaneswar on a Monday morning, sending shockwaves through the local community. What initially appeared to be a routine road accident quickly turned out to be a deliberate attempt to mow down people and take lives. Law enforcement agencies acted swiftly, apprehending the accused car driver, Soumya Ranjan Rath, and presenting him before a court.
Sequence of Events on Monday Morning
According to police details, the horrifying sequence began on October 12, a Monday, at approximately 7:30 am. The complainant, Ratikanta Singh, along with his wife Annapurna Singh, was travelling on a motorcycle towards Hanspal. While passing the Puri bypass near SR Valley Chowk, a Tata Nexon car struck a pedestrian standing by the roadside and sped away towards Keshura Chowk. Following this initial crash, Ratikanta Singh, his wife, and several bystanders immediately rushed to arrange medical transport for the injured individual.
Wrong-Side Car Attack Injures Three
The situation escalated into extreme violence when the exact same Tata Nexon car returned shortly afterward from the direction of Keshura, barrelling down the wrong side of the road at high speed. The driver intentionally plowed the vehicle into the group of people gathered at the spot. The violent impact left three people injured and completely damaged seven motorcycles parked nearby. The victims were promptly rushed to the Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar for urgent medical treatment.
Dhaba Dispute and Public Capture
Investigators uncovered that the rampage stemmed from an earlier altercation between the accused and the owner and staff of a roadside eatery. Police findings revealed that prior to the main incident in Keshura, the driver had allegedly targeted the owner and workers of Darling Dhaba with his vehicle. Following the subsequent carnage, the accused attempted to flee the scene by boarding a bus. However, alert local residents intercepted and caught him, and he was beaten by the crowd during the apprehension.
Past Criminal Record and Charges
Authorities revealed that Soumya Ranjan Rath has a history of similar dangerous behavior. Roughly three months prior, he was accused of executing a nearly identical vehicular attack near Shastri Nagar Chowk under the Kharavel Nagar police station limits, an incident that had resulted in one fatality. Although he was arrested and jailed back then, he subsequently secured bail from the court. Police noted that while out on bail, he committed this latest offense. Records show four prior criminal cases registered against him at the Badagarh police station and another case at Kharavel Nagar. Following his latest arrest under BNS sections 109(1), 281, 125(a), 125(b), and 324(4), he was produced in court as the investigation continues.
