Odisha In Brief

Sanjeeb Panda, IPS Promoted to ADG Rank

Bhubaneswar: IPS officer Sanjeeb Panda has been promoted to Additional Director General, General Administration Department. The 1994-batch IPS officer was an IG. Panda is currently working as the State Transport Commissioner.

295 Gram Brown Sugar Seized, 2 Peddlers Held in Khurda

Khurda: The Excise Department on Friday conducted raids at different places
of Khurda district and seized 295 grams brown sugar. Department sleuths also
arrested two peddlers in this connection. The arrested persons have been identified
as Krushna Chandra Palai and Rabindra Pradhan. Both belong to the district.
The raids were conducted jointly by the flying squad of the excise department of
Khurda and Cuttack at the Radhamohanpur and Matha Sahi areas. Contraband
worth Rs 29.5 lakh was seized their possession.

Kalahandi Housing Board Deputy Manager in Vigilance Dragnet

Kalahandi: Vigilance sleuths on Saturday conducted simultaneous raids on
the properties of Kalahandi Police Housing Board’s Deputy Manager, Manguli
Behera on charges of possessing disproportionate assets. The vigilance officials
conducted a raid at Behera’s rented house in Bhawanipatana, his office,
his properties in Nischintakoili and Jagamara and his in-law’s house. A laptop,
some documents and cash were seized. The exact worth of his assets
is yet to be ascertained. Further investigation is on.

Dacoity Bid Foiled in Balasore, Five Held

Balasore: Sahadev Khunta police foiled a major dacoity bid by arresting five
persons and seizing several articles during a raid here last night. The gang
was planning a dacoity at Chudakuta Sahi in Sahadev Khunta. On being
informed, the police reached the spot immediately and conducted a raid.
All the arrested dacoits had several old cases in the police station.
Out of them, two dacoits are in the most wanted list.

Missing Minor Girl’s Body Found in Pond in Nayagarh

Nayagarh: The body of a minor girl, missing for three days, was recovered
from a pond in Nimani village of Nayagarh district on Friday. The deceased has
been identified as Swagatika Sethi of the same village. She was missing after she
went to the pond for a bath. Her family members had lodged a missing complaint
at the police station. Locals spotted Swagatika’s body floating in the pond
yesterday and informed the police. The police fished out the body out of
the pond and sent it for postmortem. However, her family members have alleged
that she was abducted and murdered. Investigation into the matter is on.