Cuttack: In a shocking incident, an elderly woman was brutally attacked by the helper of a truck for pleading with him for food.
The incident occurred just in front of the Manglabag Aahar centre, the government outlet offering food at Rs 5. The woman, Pramila Patra (58), suffered grievous head injuries in the attack and was admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital here, where she was stated to be in a critical state.
The Malgodown police have arrested the truck helper, Niranjan Das.
According to sources, Pramila, who originally hails from Purusottampur village in Jajpur district, works as a porter at Mangodown area. She lives in Malgodown slum.
Sources said she had no job for the last two days and was starving. She went to the Aahar centre Saturday night, but was told that the meals were already sold.
After loitering for hours in the city to find a square meal for her but in vain, she got tired and sat near the Aahar centre. It was there, she noticed that the truck helper was having rice and chicken.
Unable to control her hunger she approached Niranjan and repeatedly pleaded with him for food. However, Niranjan flew into a rage and alleged pushed her to the ground. When she further pleaded with him, Niranjan threw the food plate at her face. He kept beating her and hit her head against a wall. Although some truck drivers were present, they did not come to the rescue of the woman.
When the woman fell unconscious, the accused fled the spot. Pramila was lying near the Aahar centre when some locals noticed her and contacted the police. Soon a PCR van rushed to the spot. The police rushed the victim to SCB.
Subsequently, Malgodown inspector-in-charge Debi Prasanna Patra and other officials nabbed the accused. A case has been registered in this regard and the accused has been produced in court.
PNN
