Odisha: Two held for firing at travel agency office for delay in refund of cancelled railway tickets
Jajpur (PTI): Odisha Police on Friday arrested two persons with criminal backgrounds for allegedly firing at a travel agency office here over a delay in the refund of cancelled railway tickets.
The accused have been identified as Michael Santosh (23) of Purbakot village and Santosh Pradhan (24) of Mundamal village, both in Jajpur district.
Police arrested the duo on Thursday night from the homes of their relatives outside the district, police said.
A pistol used in the firing, four live rounds, a motorcycle, and a mobile phone were seized from their possession.
SP Yashpratap Srimal said the accused have criminal antecedents not only in Odisha but also in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
"They have been booked under relevant sections of the Arms Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Further investigation is underway into their criminal activities," he said.
Micheal had given Rs 8,000 to one Devidutta Panda, owner of the travel agency at Jajpur Road, to book four online railway tickets for Dibrugarh in Assam from Jajpur Road two weeks ago, police said.
Later, Micheal had asked Panda to cancel the tickets and refund the entire amount a day before the journey.
Panda reportedly told him the refund had not yet been credited to his account by railway authorities and asked for more time.
Enraged by the delay, Michael and his associate allegedly arrived at the agency on a motorcycle on Wednesday night and fired at the closed office before fleeing the scene.
No casualties or damage to property were reported.
Based on the complaint of Panda, Jajpur Road police on Thursday registered a case and arrested both the criminals.
"We have arrested the duo under relevant sections of Arms Act and BNS," Srimal said.
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Minister Patil chairs industry meetings to chart growth for key sectors in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.
The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.
Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.
The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.
Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.
Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.
Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.
He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.
These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.
On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.
Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.
In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.
Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.
For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.
Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.
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