Criminal hacked to death

Bhubaneswar: A 30-year-old man with criminal antecedents was hacked to death by three of his former associates at Banphul Basti, a slum close to the railway tracks, in Buddha Nagar on Monday. The Laxmisagar police detained three persons, all believed to be his former crime associates, for interrogation. The body of Phutan Singh, who had criminal records, was found lying on railway tracks by the local people around 5pm. Sources said Singh, who used to lead a gang of dacoits that operated in the railway station area, was attacked with sharp weapons by his former associates after they had a round of drinks with him on the tracks.

Biranchi case

Bhubaneswar: Orissa High Court called for the trial court records related to the conviction of Sandeep Acharya alias Raja in the sensational Biranchi Das murder case, while issuing a stay order on realisation of fine imposed on him along with life sentence. Raja contended that his conviction “is erroneous both in fact and in law”. “After a preliminary hearing on Monday the two-judge bench of Justice Pradip Mohanty and Justice B.K. Nayak found a prima facie case and admitted the criminal appeal, while calling for the lower court records,” Raja’s counsel Debasnan Das said. “The bench clarified that the bail application of the appellant will be taken up for hearing after receipt of the lower court records, while issuing an interim stay order on realisation of the fine imposed on him.”

Angul fire

Angul: A massive fire gutted a four-storey building at Shankar cinema hall lane in Angul on Monday. The fire originated in the basement in the afternoon and spread to all the floors. At least five shops on the ground floor were also gutted. Goods worth lakh are believed to have been destroyed in the mishap. No one was injured in the incident. Fire tenders that rushed to the spot were trying to put out the fire till late evening.

PDS protest

Bhubaneswar: Local resident surrounded the Public Distribution System office at Rourkela on Monday protesting against the delay in the arrival of officials. About a hundred beneficiaries locked up the gates of the office protesting the delay in distribution of the ration. The protestors were pacified after senior officials intervened and promised action.