Sambalpur: Two senior BJP workers were killed after a Hyva hit the car in which they were travelling with four others in Sambalpur district late last night.
The deceased were identified as Debendra Nayak and Muralidhar Chhuria. Nayak was working as BJP Goshala Mandal President while Chhuria was a former sarpanch, both were close associates of senior BJP leader and ex-MLA (Rengali) Nauri Naik, party sources said.
The incident took place around 1.30 AM last night at about 100 meters from Sambalpur-Bargarh National Highway-53 under Burla police station limits when six persons including a driver were returning home from Bhubaneswar.
After rescue by locals, the injured persons were shifted to a hospital at Burla, where doctors declared the two dead while the injured persons are under treatment.
Suresh Chand, who was injured in the accident, alleged, “The Hyva hit their vehicle from behind twice in a little gap of 100 meters on the NH. Suspecting someone trying to hit their vehicle intentionally, they turned their car to a NH side rural road near Kantapalli square. Still, the Hyva chased their vehicle and hit it badly as a result, the car turned turtle.”
Till the Hyva hit twice on the highway, Suresh said he was in sense. But, when the third time, the heavy vehicle hit their car, he lost sense.
“I am sure that someone has intentionally caused the accident. By mistake, one can hit the vehicle once. Why would someone be hit thrice from behind?” asked the injured BJP worker.
After visiting the injured persons, senior BJP leader Nauri Naik alleged that it was not an accident. Someone has deliberately hit their vehicle trice, he said.
“We have seized the Hyva and detained its driver. As the family members of deceased persons allege that it was done intentionally, we will investigate that angle too,” said Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo, SP, Sambalpur.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also met the injured BJP workers in the hospital and inquired about their health condition.