Twist in NIFT girl student firing incident in Odisha capital

Bhubaneswar: While a girl student of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Bhubaneswar was injured in a firing in Infocity area here, preliminary investigation showed that the accused is the victim’s male friend. Earlier in the day, the girl student, Sonali Das’s male friend cooked up a story before police saying that two bike-borne miscreants had attacked Sonali when he was talking to her outside a private university campus.

As per a police official, Sonali’s male friend, Asish Kumar Nayak was at her rented flat in Sishu Vihar when the incident occurred. Asish was showing a gun to the girl student at her flat when accidentally the trigger was pulled and one bullet hit her. She has sustained injuries in her thighs and admitted to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar, the police official added.

Asish was initially detained and questioned about the matter. Later after round of questioning, he was arrested by the Infocity police.

Sources said Asish is having criminal antecedents as a case has been pending against him for his alleged involvement in a bombing case in Salisahi area in Bhubaneswar.

Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Sudhansu Sarangi has sanctioned an initial amount of Rs 25,000 for the treatment of the victim.

In another case, the Special Task Force of Crime Branch has arrested a gun dealer from Chhattisgarh and seized three pistols including one 7.65 automatic gun and live bullets.

While the gun dealer was trying to sell a pistol to another person from Gandamunda area in Bhubaneswar for Rs 1 lakh, the sleuths nabbed the two duo.

Sources said the gun dealer is highly qualified and was having links with naxal organization.