A driver was assaulted by fellow striking drivers for operating his vehicle during an active protest near the NH-57 toll gate along the Balangir-Sonepur stretch.
The incident, which unfolded at the height of the driver union’s agitation demanding resolution of unmet demands, shocked bystanders and triggered swift police action.
Eyewitnesses report that tensions escalated as the victim attempted to continue transporting passengers, defying the ongoing strike led by the driver union steering committee. The group of protestors confronted him, leading to a violent altercation that left the driver critically injured.
He was immediately admitted to Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital for urgent care. Puintala Police reached the scene and arrested eight individuals linked to the attack.
This incident sheds light on the seriousness of the protest and raises broader concerns about transport-related safety and labour unrest in Odisha.
