The Hindu : Front Page : Buddhia’s former coach shot dead

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Monday, Apr 14, 2008
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Buddhia’s former coach shot dead

Staff Reporter

Biranchi Das

BHUBANESWAR: Biranchi Das, the former coach of child marathoner Buddhia Singh, was shot dead by three unidentified persons in front of his judo training centre here on Sunday evening.

Mr. Das, who was believed to have received two bullets in his chest, was brought to the Capital Hospital where he died.

Speaking to reporters outside the hospital, Deputy Commissioner of Police Amitabh Thakur said the incident occurred around 7 p.m. The miscreants had first called Mr. Das from the judo association hall near the district court.

They were believed to have had an altercation, Mr. Thakur said.

The DCP said the miscreants fired at Mr. Das at point blank range and fled in their two-wheelers.

“Some eye-witnesses have given some names. We are on our job. The culprits will be nabbed soon,” Mr. Thakur said.

Though reasons behind the fatal attack is yet to be ascertained, Susanta Das, brother of the victim, alleged that he had seen gangster Raja Acharya shooting at his brother.

Mr. Das was instrumental in picking up Buddhia Singh from a slum and making him a long-distance runner. However, owing to allegations that Mr. Das was torturing the boy, Buddhia was later put up in a government-run sports hostel.

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