Bolangir: Police Sunday arrested three persons in connection with the abduction of Puintala (block development officer) BDO, Saroj Kumar Mishra, at Suliamal here in the district.
The arrested persons were identified as Manoranjan Karmi, Manoranjan Negi and Meghnad Pradhan. The police have also seized the SUV (OD 03H 5688) used for kidnapping.
According to sources, the police were tipped off about the presence of the miscreants at Suliamal village under Sainatala police limits. They raided the address Sunday noon and arrested Karmi and Negi from there.
Sources added that Pradhan was arrested for providing shelter to the accused duo. However, the prime accused, the block vice-chairman, is on the run, sources added.
Notably, Puintala BDO, Saroj Mishra, reached his office at 3:30 pm Friday. A few minutes later, block vice-chairman Santosh Gurandi along with his associates barged in there and a commotion ensued over some issue. Things took an ugly turn after the chairman and his aides gagged the BDO and dragged him to their SUV which they had parked outside the block office.
They took the BDO to an unknown location. A few hours later, after getting information, a special police team was formed and the BDO was rescued.
We will arrest Pradhan soon, police said.
PNN