A vehicle suspected of transporting ganja (dry cannabis) was deliberately set ablaze by its driver following a tyre burst near Binka Nua Bazaar in Odisha’s Subarnapur district.
The incident occurred around 6:45 AM when the Innova car—bearing no registration plate—halted abruptly due to a front tyre blowout. Eyewitnesses reported that the driver, seemingly panicked by the mechanical failure and fearing arrest amid an intensified anti-drug operation, exited the vehicle and pretended to seek help. Moments later, he allegedly doused the car in petrol and ignited it before fleeing the scene.
Locals observed another Innova arriving shortly after, making a swift U-turn to pick up the fleeing driver. Fire Services responded promptly and managed to contain the blaze, but the vehicle and its illicit cargo were completely gutted.
Police suspect the act was a desperate attempt to destroy evidence as part of Operation Prahar—a district-wide crackdown on drug trafficking. Authorities are investigating the quantity of ganja destroyed and tracing the origins of the unregistered vehicle.
Further details are awaited as the investigation continues.
