Four held for rape

Sambalpur: Four persons were arrested and produced before court on Tuesday in connection with the gang rape of a 47-year-old woman at Chichinda village in Brajrajnagar police limits in Jharsuguda district. The arrested have been identified as Surendra Mirdha, Sadanand Kulu, Gobinda Mirdha and Janeka Mirdha. All the accused belong to Chichinda. The woman was allegedly gang raped by the criminals on June 16.

Protest

Bhubaneswar: The BJP staged a road blockade at Parjang on Tuesday demanding closure of illegal sand quarries in Parjang block of Dhenkanal. Former block chairman Sushant Dalbehera led the agitation. The BJP has alleged sand quarries at Kamar, Damal, Kulei, Khalpal, Basulei and Jatia in Parjang Tehsil were operating illegally.

Rice seized

Bhadrak: Police seized two vehicles and 150 bags of public distribution system rice meant for mid-day meal in Bhadrak district on Tuesday. According to reports, the rice was kept in an abandoned house at Trishalpur. It was seized while being loaded into the two vehicles. However, the drivers of the vehicles and the accused involved in the illegal trafficking fled the spot.

Distress sale

Dharmagarh: Distress sale of onion has aggravated farmers’ woes in Kalahandi district.  After months of hard work, the onion farmers are forced to sell their produce at a much lesser price than the normal market rate. The farmers are selling onion at Rs 500 to Rs 600 per quintal, which is barely sufficient to pay electricity bill for farming.

Murder bid

Balasore: A person allegedly tried to kill a girl by slitting her throat. The incident took place at Tentei village in Soro police limits in Balasore district on Monday night.