Odishatv Bureau

Paradip: In a surprise twist to the missing case of a truck driver who reportedly fell off a bridge in Paradip last evening, police today detained the helper of the vehicle suspecting him to be involved behind the incident.

According to reports, the driver, who was earlier suspected of accidentally falling off the bridge into Mahanadi river while talking on phone, is now believed to have fallen from the bridge after an altercation with the helper of the truck.

Police have identified the missing driver as Alekh Nayak, a native of Kaniha Khamar village of Angul district and also detained the helper of the vehicle.

Sources said, Alekh had purchased a bird and kept inside the truck yesterday. However, the helper of the truck, Raju had set the bird free. Following which, Alekh and Raju had a verbal duel which later led to an altercation between them. It is suspected that Alekh had fallen off of the bridge during a scuffle with the helper.

It may be noted that the helper had called the owner of the truck to inform that the driver had fallen off the bridge while talking on his phone in an inebriated state, however, he had later fled the spot.

Meanwhile, a rescue operation has been launched by the fire personnel and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) to trace Alekh.

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