Jajpur (Odisha):

The police on Wednesday arrested a man on the charge of killing a teenage boy following an altercation over delayed serving of chow mein at a stall in Odisha’s Jajpur district.

The arrested man, a local leader of the opposition BJD, was remanded to judicial custody.

Police said that 14-year-old Santanu Das died on Sunday due to the injuries he had suffered during the assault on the night of February 9 near Gobindpur village under Jajpur block.

Santanu’s father Sukadev, a resident of Gobindpur village, alleged in the police complaint that he had gone to the stall of Anil Kumar Mallik to have chow mein, but it was not served to him even after 30 minutes.

When Sukhdev asked the reason for the delay, he was allegedly beaten up by Mallik.

Santanu then reached the spot and asked the stall owner why he assaulted his father.

Local BJD leader Kamal Mallik, who lives nearby, along with others then allegedly thrashed the boy with iron rods injuring him critically.

Local people took both the injured father and son to the Jajpur district headquarters hospital. Later, Santanu was shifted to a private hospital in Cuttack after his condition deteriorated, and he died there on Sunday night, police said.

Kamal Mallik was arrested from a place in Jajpur where he was hiding, while other accused are still at large. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Cuttack:

A tailor’s tag on a blood-stained shirt found near the crime scene helped the Odisha Police to crack a mysterious murder case and arrest three people, an officer said.

The police on December 13 recovered the body of a 35-year-old woman on the banks of Kathjodi river in Cuttack under Kandarpur police station.

The deceased remained unidentified and nobody lodged any complaint at any police station in the state. The police had no clue other than getting a weapon of offence a chopper. It was a big challenge for the police to crack the case, said Cuttack DCP Jagmohan Meena.

DCP Meena said though tattoos were found on both the hands of the deceased woman, they could not help her identification. One blood-stained shirt and pant were found on the water body near the spot. It was found that both the wearing apparel had a tag of ‘New Star Tailors’ stitched, he said.

“This clue was focused upon. Around 10 tailors with this name or similar name in Odisha were verified and their tag design was compared with the tag of the shirt and pant found at the spot. However, there was no match found. A tailor in Ganjam district informed that such kind of tags are being used in Gujarat,” DCP Meena said.

The DCP said the Gujarat police was contacted and they found such a tailor in Surat. The tailor’s tag had a number ‘3833’ which was matched and upon search, it was seen that the shirt was stitched for one person named ‘Babu’.

“There was no other detail available. However, the tailor gave one important clue that he had to return Rs 100 to the customer ‘babu’ but he did not have the change. So, he transferred Rs 100 on the e-wallet of one mobile number. That number was contacted and it was found that he is a friend of ‘babu’.

“Details of ‘Babu’ were received. He was found to be Jaganath Duhuri (27) @ Babu @ Bapi of Kendrapada. It was found that he (Babu) was going back to Surat by train. The train was passing through Rayagada when he was nabbed,” DCP Meena said.

On further verification and interrogation, it was found that he was the brother-in-law of the deceased. He also revealed that he committed crime with the help of his brother Balaram Duhuri and cousin Hapi Duhuri. All three have been apprehended, police said.

“Balaram Duhuri was the husband of the deceased woman. The motive of the crime is chronic marital dispute between the deceased and her husband. Balaram was doubting that the deceased was having an extra-marital affair with someone,” the DCP said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Odisha has ramped up its security after US-based pro-Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun issued a threat to disrupt a key meeting, the All India Conference of Director Generals/ Inspector Generals of Police, scheduled to be held later today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other 200 top security officials will be attending the meeting organised by the Intelligence Bureau.

According to officials, the state administration has made several spots a “no-fly” and “no-drone” zone.

The conference is set to discuss key topics such as national security, counter-terrorism, left-wing extremism, coastal security, new criminal laws, and narcotics, among others.

“Even though it’s an annual affair, it’s a crucial conference as all heads of security apparatus gather on one platform and brainstorm on issues related to security and threats. Issues being faced by various forces to operate will also be discussed…PM Modi is directly involved in these discussions so presentations to update him are made,” a senior official said.

According to officials, the conference provides an interactive platform for senior police personnel and security administrators in the country to freely discuss and debate diverse national security-related issues and various operational, infrastructural, and welfare-related problems faced by them.

Several other personnel from all states, apart from the 200 officials, will be attending the conference online, officials said.

Since 2014, the conference has been held in Assam, Gujarat, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Rajasthan.

PM Modi in Odisha

PM Modi will arrive in Odisha on Friday evening. According to officials, he is likely to address a gathering at the airport before leaving for Raj Bhavan. The Prime Minister will then proceed to the party’s state headquarters.

“He may visit party office during which meetings with state ministers, MPs, MLAs, and other state office-bearers will be held. Following this, he will attend the maiden DGP-IGP conference and return to Delhi on December 1,” a senior official said.
 

Balasore:

In a raid by police teams from Hyderabad and Odisha, a huge amount of cash was recovered from a heap of cow dung at a village in Balasore district, an officer said on Saturday.

The recovery was made at Badamandaruni village under the Kamarda police station limits, he said.

A team of police officials from Hyderabad and Odisha reached the village and raided the house of the in-laws of accused Gopal Behera.

Gopal, who is on the run at present, worked in an agro-based company in Hyderabad and he had allegedly stolen more than Rs 20 lakhs from the company locker.

He allegedly sent the money to the village through his brother-in-law Rabindra Behera.

Acting on a complaint, a team of Hyderabad Police with Kamarda police raided Rabindra’s house and recovered a huge amount of money concealed in a heap of cow dung.

Kamarda police station IIC Premada Nayak said both Gopal and his brother-in-law Rabindra are missing.

Still, one of their family members from the village has been detained, and an investigation is underway, the officer added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The Berhampur Police in Odisha arrested four men accused of assaulting a father and son. But when they announced the news on social media, their post took X users on a wild laughter ride. The reason? The police’s creative use of emojis turned a routine announcement into a viral sensation.

The post features a photo of the four accused, but their faces were not covered by the usual pixelation or blurring. They had emojis  —  each telling its own story. A pleading, a disappointed and a frowned emoji superimposed on their faces.

The caption, “Gopalpur Police team arrested four persons for assaulting father and son,” may be straightforward, but the visual twist added a layer of humour that had people cracking up.

Take a look at it here:

Gopalpur Police team arrested four persons for assaulting father and son. pic.twitter.com/LiK5ys1WhM

— SP BERHAMPUR (@SP_BERHAMPUR) November 7, 2024

Several users praised the post for how it blended humour with the arrest news.

One user wrote, “Unbelievable guys with such emotional faces would assault someone .”

Unbelievable guys with such emotional faces ???????? would assault someone ????‍????????‍????

— Travis Toe (@Umemeshhh) November 9, 2024

Another user was in two minds about whether to feel disheartened about the crime or to laugh at the police’s witty take.

Samjh nhi aa rha..news padh kr..disappoint hona h ya..yeh emojis dekh kr hasna h????????????

— ???? (@fuckedofff_07) November 9, 2024
One keen-eyed user pointed out something more hilarious. On one of the accused’s shirts, there’s a slogan, “Good time.”

Tisare ki shirt pe “Good time “ likha hai ????????

— Aditi. (@Sassy_Soul_) November 9, 2024

Another user playfully suggested that if he were ever arrested, the police should use the emoji that depicts a face with sweat and a flushed expression. The emoji is commonly used to convey feelings of stress or intense situations.

Mujhe kabhi arrest krna pade toh ye emoji use krna sir “????”

— Karan (@karrrannn) November 9, 2024

This wasn’t just a one-off moment. The Berhampur Police handle has a knack for mixing serious law enforcement updates with a good dose of comedy. Take, for instance, their October post about a major drive against gambling. The caption outlined the ongoing raids across various police station areas over 10 days, but it was the photos of the accused that truly stole the show. Instead of revealing their identities, the police covered their faces with a range of emojis.

Drive against Gambling
In the past 10 days, raids against Gambling has been continuously being done by Berhampur police under all police station areas.

Total cases – 17
Accused persons detained – 102
Cash seizure – ₹ 6,07,960
Mobiles seized – 75
Motorcycle seized – 23 pic.twitter.com/Vk5E7R7JkU

— SP BERHAMPUR (@SP_BERHAMPUR) October 16, 2024

In another instance from October, Berhampur Police arrested an individual for cheating, and true to their style, they shared a post on social media with the accused’s face covered by an emoji.
 

Today (25.10.2024) Sadar Police Station arrested one person for cheating. pic.twitter.com/3H9V9hJGoc

— SP BERHAMPUR (@SP_BERHAMPUR) October 25, 2024

Through these witty updates, Berhampur Police have not only captured attention but also brought a refreshing dose of humour to the usually serious world of crime.

What’s your take on this?

Bhubaneswar:

The Economic Offence Wing of the Odisha Police arrested a person from Mumbai for allegedly cheating Rs 1.20 crore from 189 people of the state, promising them the Haj pilgrimage, according to an official statement issued on Monday.

The accused was arrested in the western metropolis on September 27 and brought to Bhubaneswar on transit remand, it said.

The arrest was made based on a written complaint filed by one Mir Khursid of the Dhamnagar area in Bhadrak district.

According to the complaint, two Mumbai-based tour and travel agencies had allegedly collected Rs 1.20 crore from 189 prospective Haj pilgrims during the 2019-23 period to arrange for their pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

They collected the money under two tour packages of Rs 45,786 and Rs 50,786 per individual and the proprietors went on deferring the date of pilgrimage over the years, the statement said.

Subsequently, the proprietors closed down their office and could not be contacted via mobile phones, it said.

The prospective Haj pilgrims found them missing, the statement said.

The travel agencies neither took the prospective pilgrims to Saudi Arabia nor did they refund the amount, the police statement said.

The economic offence wing has seized mobile phones, money receipts and cheques during the investigation, it added. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Retired Army Chief General VK Singh and former CBI Director M Nageswara Rao have clashed over the alleged torture and sexual assault of an Army officer’s fiancee at a police station in Odisha. The incident took place in Bhubaneswar on the night of September 15 and has sparked widespread outrage.

General VK Singh, in a social media post, described the treatment of the woman, the fiancee of an Army officer, as “shameful and horrendous.” General Singh condemned the handling of the situation by the Odisha Police and demanded immediate action against the officers involved.

“Everyone must listen to the daughter of a retired Army officer. What happened to her in Bharatpur police station in Odisha is shameful. The Odisha Chief Minister should take swift action against the police personnel and those shielding the criminals in uniform,” General Singh stated in his post.

According to the victim’s account, she was allegedly thrashed and sexually assaulted inside Bharatpur police station after she and her fiance attempted to file a complaint regarding a road rage incident. The Army officer was allegedly illegally detained by the police.

In a counter-response, former CBI Director M Nageswara Rao, an Odisha-cadre IPS officer, painted a different picture. Mr Rao disputed General Singh’s allegations and accused the Army officer and his fiancee of being drunk and behaving inappropriately.

“An Army officer and his fiancee consumed alcohol and drove through the city late at night. They were involved in a brawl with engineering students and later created a scene at Bharatpur police station. When asked to undergo a medical examination and blood test, they refused, which is a standard part of the investigation,” Mr Rao claimed. 

He further defended the police, stating that the Odisha Police, which manages more than 600 police stations, had no reason to misbehave with visitors, including Army personnel. Mr Rao urged General Singh to reconsider his stance, adding that it is improper to castigate the police for the actions of an individual Army officer.

“It is not appropriate for a former Chief of Army Staff and Central Minister to jump to conclusions and criticize the police for the alleged drunken misconduct of the Army officer and his fiancee. However, I would not question the Indian Army’s discipline based on one individual’s actions. I urge the Army to take appropriate action against this officer for conduct unbecoming of a soldier,” Mr Rao concluded.

In the midst of these allegations, videos showing the couple in a physical altercation with a group of people surfaced on social media. 
While the Army veterans have rallied around the officer and his fiancee, retired police officers, including Mr Rao, have defended the actions of the Odisha Police and have raised questions about the behaviour of the couple.

Several retired Army officers have taken to social media to criticise the Odisha Police, urging the Defence Ministry to intervene.

The Odisha government has responded by suspending five police personnel involved in the incident and ordering a judicial inquiry. The state’s crime branch is investigating the allegations, and the government has provided security to the Army officer and his fiancee in light of the case.

Following a meeting with Odisha’s Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the woman expressed relief and hope for justice, stating that she feared for her safety given the nature of the allegations. She also confirmed that both she and her fiance had accepted the government’s offer of personal security officers (PSOs) for their protection.

A day after it came to light that the friend of an Army officer was sexually harassed at a police station in Odisha’s Bhubaneswar when she and the officer went to file a complaint about an attack on them by a few men, videos of the alleged manhandling have emerged.

The videos, which were accessed by NDTV on Saturday but whose authenticity has not been independently verified, show the woman and the officer being surrounded by some men, who are seen arguing with them and then pushing them while hurling abuses. The assault took place around 1 am on Sunday when the woman and the officer, who is attached to the 22 Sikh Regiment in Kolkata, were returning to their hotel in Bhubaneswar after closing her restaurant for the day. 

In the footage, which appears to be shot on a cellphone, the woman is seen speaking to a man and is heard saying that some of the people surrounding her had tried to misbehave with her. 

“Sir, I am not speaking with you, I am speaking with the people who are trying to misbehave with me. They are… It is my car, whether I show my legs or my hair, it is my prerogative,” she says in Hindi. 

A man in the group interjects and says, “Don’t show it to us, then.” When the woman asks, “Who are you?” another man takes the name of a politician and asks whether she has heard of him. When she says she hasn’t, another man shouts, “The Prime Minister of Odisha”. 

As the argument escalates, the Army officer holds the woman’s hands and tries to take her away, but the men follow, shouting, “This is not Delhi.” The men then push the officer and ask him to “explain things” to her.

The argument continues and the men accuse the woman of playing the “victim card” and tell her not to “show overconfidence”.

The officer takes the woman to their car and in the next video, she is seen standing with the front door open when one of the men slams it. The men hurl abuses and hit the officer who tries to shield the woman. She and the officer are then separated and manhandled. The video ends with the officer and the woman walking towards the car when she says she will go to the police. A man is heard saying, “Arre ja” (go ahead). 

From Bad To Worse

The ordeal from the woman and the officer was just beginning, however. She told reporters on Friday that when they reached the Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar some time later, only a woman constable in civil dress was present and she refused to help them. 

The constable abused them and, in the meantime, a few policemen arrived and asked the officer to give a written statement, before locking him up in a cell. 

“I don’t know what happened… they put him in the lock-up. When I raised my voice to say they cannot put an Army officer in custody as it is unlawful, two female officers assaulted me,” she said, adding that her jacket was used to bind her arms and she was left in a room. 

“After some time, a male officer opened the doors and kicked my breasts several times,” she said, alleging he also took off his pants and then hers, while the officer in charge of the police station made obscene gestures.

Police officials at the station have, however,  alleged that the woman and the Army officer assaulted a police officer while drunk and vandalised property there. The woman was arrested and granted bail by the Odisha High Court earlier this week. 

The Odisha Police headquarters said five cops, including an Inspector-rank officer, have been suspended for “gross misconduct” and an inquiry is being conducted. Officials from another police station are now investigating the assault on the woman and the Army officer before they reached the Bharatpur police station. 

Former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik has called for a judicial probe into the assault at the police station.

“Regarding the violence that was meted out to both of them and the alleged sexual assault on the major’s fiancee, we demand a full judicial inquiry into this matter, and action must be taken very quickly,” he said.

Jajpur, Odisha:

A 22-year-old man allegedly died by suicide after failing to repay loans he had taken from people after suffering losses to the tune of lakhs of rupees in mobile games, police said on Monday.

The incident happened on Sunday night in Kadubani village under the jurisdiction of the Kaliapani police station, a police officer said, adding he used to play online games and suffered huge financial losses.

The victim, identified as Srinivasa Nayak alias Lincon, was the only son of Brajabandhu Nayak of Kadubani village, the police officer said.

Lincon had dinner with his family before going to his bedroom on Sunday night. When he did not wake up in the morning, the concerned family members knocked on his door.

Then his family broke open the door of his room and found his body hanging from the ceiling.

Employed as a contract worker in a private mining company, Lincon had allegedly incurred financial losses amounting to several lakhs of rupees while playing online games on his mobile phone.

To mitigate these losses, he had taken loans from various self-help groups in his village through his mother.

Facing relentless pressure from moneylenders to repay the debts, Lincon is believed to have taken the drastic step of ending his life, the police officer said.

The police later recovered the body and sent it for a post-mortem examination. After registering an unnatural death case, the police have initiated an investigation to ascertain the circumstances leading to Lincon’s suicide.

“We are investigating the case to ascertain the circumstances leading to the suicide of the youth. We are also examining his bank records, which may shed further light on the reasons behind his decision,” said a senior police officer.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Berhampur, Odisha:

A woman allegedly killed her two-year-old daughter and then hanged herself to death in Odisha’s Ganjam district on Thursday, police said.

The bodies were recovered from their residence in Baragaon under the Polasara Police Station limits and sent for post-mortem examinations, a senior officer said.

The deceased were identified as Manika Gouda (28) and her daughter Ankita.

Bhikari Gouda, the husband of the woman, was not in the house when she allegedly killed her daughter and ended her life.

After returning to the home, the man found his wife’s body hanging from the ceiling and his daughter lying on the floor.

The exact cause of the death is yet to be ascertained, the police office said.

The family members of the deceased woman alleged that she was killed by her husband for dowry.

“We have started an investigation. The husband of the deceased was detained for interrogation,” the officer added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)