IAS rejig

Bhubaneswar: The state government on Monday effected a major reshuffle in the senior IAS cadre. Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra has been posted as food supplies and consumer welfare secretary with the additional charge of special relief commissioner and managing director of Odisha State Disaster Mitigation Authority.   

Umpire honour

Bhubaneswar: J.K. Mohanty from Bhubaneswar has been adjudged the best umpire for 2015 by the Singapore Cricket Association. Mohanty started his career with the Singapore Local League Tournament in 2008. Later, he was selected for the ICC Cricket League Division-IV in 2014.

Gold seized

Kendrapara: The crime branch wing of state police on Monday made a seizure of 100 grams of gold from a bank locker allotted to a close aide of controversial self-styled spiritual leader Sarathi baba. The locker at the main branch of Kendrapara Urban Cooperative Bank was owned by Sarathi aide Pradeep Sahoo. 

Scribe attack

Cuttack: Police on Monday arrested nine persons in connection with the assault of a journalist of a local channel. The reporter was allegedly attacked when he had gone to Khalarda along with the members of Child Welfare Committee to prevent the marriage of a minor on Sunday. 

HC clean chit

Cuttack: In a relief to social activist Minati Behera, Orissa High Court on Monday gave a clean chit to her appointment as state commissioner for persons with disabilities.