Youth run over by truck while trying to escape from police custody in Odisha

Rayagada: A youth arrested on charges of betraying a young woman was run over by a container truck while trying to escape from police custody in Rayagada town today afternoon. The deceased was identified as Santosh Kumar Pandu and a resident of Panasaguda village under Bisama Cuttack block of Rayagada district.

Santosh was arrested from Bisama Cuttack for allegedly betraying the young woman and attacking her. After his medical examination at the district headquarters hospital today morning, police had brought him to the Rayagada Police station. He was scheduled to be forwarded to the court later in the day.

While sitting inside the Rayagada Police Station, Santosh told the police personnel accompanying him that he was feeling nauseous and wanted to vomit. He came outside the police station building and tried to escape. While running towards the main road in front of the police station, Santosh was hit by the container truck. In a critical condition, he was admitted to the district headquarters hospital where doctors declared him dead.

Santosh had allegedly established sexual relationship with the young woman from Tikiri area in the district on the pretext of marrying her. When the young woman requested Santosh to marry her, he tried to evade the proposal on different occasions.

On July 9, the young woman met Santosh in Rayagada town. After a while, Santosh allegedly took the young woman in his motorcycle to a temple where he attacked her with a lathi. When the young woman fell unconscious, Santosh admitted her to a hospital and left her in the custody of one of her relatives.

After returning home in Tikiri, the young woman lodged a complaint with the Tikiri police station. Based on the complaint, police had arrested Santosh.

A senior police official said Santosh’s body will be handed over to his family members after a post mortem tomorrow.