Bhubaneswar: International hockey star Birendra Lakra appeared at Infocity police station in Bhubaneswar on Monday for questioning in connection with the death of his childhood friend Anand Toppo.
According to sources, Lakra appeared before the police after being summoned for recording of his statement. Senior police officials were present when he was questioned.
Apart from the hockey player, a total of 25 persons including Anand’s family members have also been issued notice by the Commissionerate Police to appear for questioning in connection with the case.
Anand Toppo, a childhood friend of Lakra, was found dead inside his flat in Bhubaneswar in February this year. His family suspected Lakra’s involvement in his alleged murder. His father Bandhan Toppo had told a presser that he was struggling to file an FIR even seven months after the incident and accused the state police of shielding the hockey player since he is serving as a DSP.
He then moved the court seeking a direction for registration of the complaint and a Crime Branch probe into his son’s death.
Following this, an FIR was registered against Lakra at Infocity police station on November 24.
In this connection, the Orissa High Court had last week directed the Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar, not to assign any field posting to Infocity police station IIC for one year for refusing to register the case.
The officer has also been asked to undergo sensitisation training at the Biju Pattanaik Police Academy, Bhubaneswar, for one month.
