Driver found dead under mysterious circumstances, 'quack' accused of murder

A car driver was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the Loisinga area of Bolangir district on Monday, while a quack, who had hired him for a trip, was accused of killing him. The accused, identified as Anil Mahakud of Banika in Sonepur district, has been detained. 

The deceased has been identified as Mukunda Nanda, a resident of Kulerbahal under Puintala police limits. A complaint has been lodged by the bereaved family at Puintala Police Station in this regard.

As per reports,  Anil Mahakud had hired a car to go to the Kutasingh area on Sunday evening. Mukunda who was driving the car had allegedly fainted after taking a meal at a roadside eatery. Anil rushed Mukunda to Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital in Bolangir, late on Sunday night. However, the doctors on duty pronounced Mukunda brought dead. 

After the family members of the deceased came to know about the incident, they and locals alleged that Anil, a quack,  had killed the driver. They detained the quack and handed him over to the police and later filed a complaint. 

Chandan Nanda, brother of the deceased Mukunda, alleged that the quack killed his brother after hiring his car. “The quack, who is a pharmacist, took my brother’s car on rent to Kutasingh and killed him over the fare. The body was carried in the car. If the quack had learned that my brother was dead after eating at a dhaba, he should have informed the local police first. But he did not do that.” 

However, accused Anil, denied the allegation of murder, saying that he and the car driver had taken food at a dhaba, but the driver felt uneasy. “Then, I asked him to rest till he felt okay. He was sleeping in the car. Later he did not wake up and was motionless. Then, I took him to hospital where he was declared dead,” he explained, saying that the truth would be revealed after the post-mortem.

However, the police reaction has not been received.