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Orissa engg college director kidnapped

M I Khan in Bhubaneshwar

Founder director of the Orissa Engineering College, Kamini Kanta Patnaik was kidnapped from his office-cum-residence on Thursday night.

Patnaik, also a legal practitioner, was about to leave for Cuttack at 1950 hours IST, when five to six persons came in two Maruti vans, with bombs and other weapons, barged in, dragged him out and fled.

According to Patnaik's office staff, this happened within five minutes. None of the 10 staffers dared resist the kidnappers.

"They struck like forest brigand Veerappan and disappeared after taking their prized catch," a senior staffer told rediff.com.

Another staffer said that Patnaik later called, saying that he would be back soon and that the police should not be informed.

District Superintendent of Police Arun Kumar Sarangi said Patnaik had telephoned his office around 2110 hours IST and informed his staff that he was fine.

Sarangi claimed that the spot where Patnaik was being held hostage had been ascertained.

Sources said the abduction could be due to a dispute between the college management and rivalry between two employee unions.

Police have launched a massive manhunt and vehicles in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack are being checked.

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