Jharsuguda: Police have arrested as many as eight persons for allegedly kidnapping Manoranjan Pattnaik, Executive Engineer, Rural Works Division in Odisha’s Jharsuguda district. The arrested have been identified as Shiva Tandi (26) of RW Colony in Jharsuguda, Pankaj Bag (22) of Bitabandha in Titlagarh area, Lalit Tandi (25) of Ghanta Bahalir in Titlagarh area, Bulu Manhari (26) of Buradipada in Titlagarh area, Prakash Mahakud (23) of Muribahal, Niranjan Achari (22) of Muribahal, Tofan Tandi (20) of RW Colony in Jharsuguda, and Sanjay Singh (33) of Titlagarh. Cops have also seized an SUV, one air gun, a knife, two swords, nine mobile phones and a snatched gold chain from the possession of the accused.
Pattnaik was abducted from his official quarters on October 6 night. The kidnapping was a fallout of the official’s action against a peon of the office over unauthorised absence and leave. The official had directed for deduction of the peon’s salary, following which the latter, his son and associates abducted Pattnaik with an intention of extorting money, police sources said.