Nayagarh: A truck driver was left battling for life after he was shot at by two unidentified miscreants when he resisted their attempt to flee with his truck on National Highway- 224 here Sunday night.
The driver was identified as Sarat Kumar Nayak (48) of Dihagaon under Daspalla block.
The masked miscreants opened two rounds of fire on the driver, with one striking his left chest while another hitting his right palm.
On being alerted, Saranakul police rescued him late in the night and rushed him to the district headquarters hospital. After preliminary treatment, he was shifted to Cuttack-based SCB Medical College and Hospital.
Police said the incident occurred when Sarat along with his helper on a cement-laden 14-wheeler truck was on their way to Godipada village under Odagaon block from Nayagarh town Sunday night.
The two masked miscreants intercepted their vehicle and tried to extort money from them. A terrified helper fell unconscious on the spot, police said.
A case has been registered and a probe launched to, IIC Manoj Kumar Satapathy said.
It may be noted here that a similar incident was reported September 25. Some miscreants assaulted a truck driver and looted Rs 50,000 from him.
In another incident, two youths were looted of Rs 9.50 lakh at gun-point while going to deposit it in a bank. Later, they fled after throwing a bomb. Till date, the police have failed to arrest the miscreants in the above cases. PNN