Keonjhar: A private finance company employee was killed and another injured in what appears to be a deliberate hit-and-run incident in Keonjhar district’s Nayakote area Monday evening.
The deceased has been identified as Bubu Mahanta (24) from Banaekala village, while his colleague Manoj Mohanta sustained injuries and is currently being treated at Banspal hospital.
Police sources said the incident occurred when the two employees visited Ram Singh Munda’s residence in Sukra Sahi to collect bike loan instalments he defaulted on. Following an argument over payment, the victims were allegedly pursued and struck from behind by a jeep carrying Munda and his associates.
“I managed to fall on the roadside, but Bubu fell on the road when the jeep struck our bike and ran over him,” said Manoj from his hospital bed.
Bharat Kumar Mahanta, the deceased’s uncle, demanded strict action against the perpetrators. “My nephew was deliberately killed while performing his duty of collecting loan instalments,” he alleged.
Inspector in-charge of Nayakote police station, Rabishankar Baisa, said the driver has been detained and investigation is ongoing. “The body has been handed over to the family after post-mortem. We are investigating whether this was an accident or a deliberate act of murder,” he said.
A forensic team has been deployed to assist with the investigation, and police are examining all angles based on the complaint received.