MLAs driver unleashes terror with AK-47

BHUBANESWAR: Armed with a loaded AK-47 rifle, the personal driver of a Chhattisgarh MLA ran riot at Jatni railway station near here on Thursday morning. On the run for last four days, Avinash Bharodia (29) opened fire that missed passengers before being captured by RPF. He was later handed over to GRP.The AK-47, two magazines, 45 rounds of live ammunition, two empty cartridges and a knife were seized from him. Eye witnesses said the first round of firing took place inside a train stationed at platform number two. Luckily, all the bullets missed the passengers. He then fired in air to terrorise them and continued to run towards the RPF barrack where he was intercepted by the jawans. An RPF jawan fired in air and asked Avinash to lay down his arms which he did.Avinash was thought to be a Maoist cadre but soon the real picture emerged. Four days ago, he had fled Raipur with BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi’s personal vehicle and his PSO’s AK-47.  “The seizure of the AK-47 initially prompted us to believe that he may have links with the Maoists but preliminary investigation did not indicate any such connection,” IG, RPF, Srikant Mishra said.The RPF IG, Bhubaneswar DCP Nitinjit Singh and Special Intelligence Wing (SIW) of the Orissa Police rushed to verify the details.After the RPF and police contacted Mandavi, it was clear that Avinash had fled with his Bolero and the AK-47 assault rifle of his PSO. While a case was lodged, Chhattisgarh police found that Avinash had fired at a petrol tanker driver, injuring him seriously, on September 12 at Bhanpur in the neighbouring state. A day later, he attempted to loot a petrol bunk at Keshkal in Chhattisgarh too and was captured on CCTV.RPF Inspector, Jatni, RK Narendra said Avinash left Chhattisgarh after police were hot on his trail.