Training centre

Bhubaneswar: The Union ministry of skills development and entrepreneurship (MSDE) has approved the establishment of an Advanced Training Institute (ATI) in Bhubaneswar. Deputy secretary of MSDE Bata Kishore Ray will be appointed the first director of  the ATI in Bhubaneswar. Ray had earlier served as the registrar of IIT Bhubaneswar.

Loot at gunpoint

Cuttack: Unidentified armed persons looted Rs 60,000 from two employees of a micro-finance company near Kanak Durga Mandap in Baranga police station limits in Cuttack on Tuesday. The incident occurred around 11am when two employees of Jana Laxmi Finance Company were on their way to Baranga from Chandi Prasad village. Two motorcycle-borne goons intercepted the two staff of the company and looted the cash at gunpoint.

Closure report

Bhubaneswar: The Prime Minister's Office has sought a report from chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi over the closure of State Institute of Educational Technology (SIET). Padhi on Tuesday ordered the school and mass education department to submit the report. It has been alleged that the institute was closed intentionally.

Murder arrest

Bhubaneswar: Naba Apat, the mastermind behind the killing of Pradip Nayak at Barabanka in Keonjhar district, has been arrested on Tuesday. Naba, the brother of former Keonjhar district BJD unit vice-president Kusa Apat, has been forwarded to court after the arrest. The vehicle and the weapon used in the murder have also been seized.

Houses gutted

Bhubaneswar: Nearly 20 houses were gutted in a major fire that broke out at Narendrapur village in Odapada block on Tuesday. However, there was no report of loss of life due to the mishap. Fire tenders rushed to the spot and doused the flames after local residents reported about the incident.

Lightning death

Bhubaneswar: A 17-year-old girl died as lightning struck her at the backyard of her house in Angulai village in Kendrapara district on Tuesday. She has been identified as Saraswati Sethy. Government relief officials contacted the family members of the deceased and assured them of ex-gratia relief as per provisions.