Five arrested for attack on Nirtar Director

Five persons were arrested Monday in connection with a recent attack on the Director of Swami Vivekananda National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research (Nirtar) at Olatpur in Odisha's Cuttack district. "We have arrested five persons, including the mastermind behind the attack", said Cuttack (Rural) SP Radhabinod Panigrahi.

Miscreants had attacked Nirtar Director Shakti Prasad Das on July 3 evening while he was returning to his Cuttack residence here in a car. According to a written complaint filed by Das, he had sustained injuries and his car was damaged.

The SP said one Laxmidhar Mallick, a staffer of the Nirtar canteen, was behind the attack to terrorise the Director due to a previous rivalry. "Mallick along with another staffer had engaged three hired goons by paying Rs 35,000", the SP said adding that one pistol, three mobile phones and two motorcycles were seized from the accused persons..