Unidentified miscreants on Saturday night set ablaze a truck near Tikarpada under the Bandhugaon police station in Koraput district.
As many as 10 armed persons intercepted the truck, which was on its way from Andhra Pradesh and assaulted the driver. later, they set fire to the vehicle.
Though the incident is suspected to be the handiwork of the Maoists as they have a significant presence in the area, the incident could also be fallout of a rivalry between contractors, opined some locals.
“All the miscreants were armed with lethal weapons and after I stopped the truck they asked me to get down. They beat me up and then set ablaze the truck,” said driver Shankar.
later getting information, police rushed to the spot and started investigation.