Pratap Chandra Sarangi: Agitator to victim & a brush with Gandhi
A mid the melee and uproar at Makar Dwar of Parliament, the image of Pratap Chandra Sarangi, frail and bloodied, with a handkerchief pressed against his forehead, evoked a strange sense of irony. It felt as though the wheels of time had come to a full circle for the BJP MP from Balasore. Twenty-two years ago, in March 2002, Sarangi had been at the heart of a different kind of storm a violent protest in Bhubaneswar over the Ram Janmabhoomi issue. As part of the VHP, Bajrang Dal, and Durga Vahini agitation, Sarangi was among the 62 arrested after a mob stormed the Odisha Assembly, vandalising property, attacking chambers of then chief minister Naveen Patnaik and ministers, and clashing with security personnel. This, even when the BJP was in government in alliance with the BJD. But on Thursday, Sarangi found himself on the other side injured and at the receiving end of political chaos. The incident unfolded during a face-off between BJP and INDIA bloc MPs. Sarangi, who was standing on the stairs, was hit by a falling MP, allegedly pushed by LoP Rahul Gandhi. I was standing near the stairs when Rahul Gandhi came and pushed an MP, who then fell on me, Sarangi said. In that moment, it was hard to ignore the striking parallel to his past. From leading aggressive agitations to now being an unintended victim of one, Sarangis journey has been a tumultuous one, marked by both fierce ideological commitment and controversial stances. Often touted as Odishas Modi for sharing the prime ministers humble beginning, austere living, firebrand politics and strong oratory, Sarangi, also a bachelor, has made his way up from the dusty village of Gopinathpur in Balasore to the halls of Parliament as a two-time MP. In between, he was elected twice to the Odisha Assembly. The 69-year-old also had the desire to become a monk at Ramkrishna Math at Belur in Kolkata during his youth, but was sent back with the directive to take care of his widowed mother and serve the people. He returned to join the RSS and dedicated himself to spearheading education in the rural areas. He made his mark in his campaigns against liquor, cow smuggling and corruption as also establishing hundreds of Ekal Vidyalayas in Balasore and Mayurbhanj. He was subsequently deputed to the affiliate organisations and rose through the ranks to become the state president of the Bajrang Dal and the state joint secretary of VHP. Two years after the Assembly incident, Sarangi entered the House as a BJP member from Nilagiri in 2004. During his tenure as an MLA, Sarangi earned a reputation for being a man of the people. His focus on education and social welfare won him support and fuelled his rise in politics and in the party. He was elected to the Assembly again in 2009, but as an Independent because he lost the party ticket, which he had put in a bag while travelling in a bus. After serving two terms in the Assembly, Sarangi was drafted to national politics with the BJP fielding him from Balasore in 2014. He lost the election to BJDs Rabindra Kumar Jena but bounced back in 2019, campaigning by bicycle and autorickshaw, to snatch the seat. Sarangi was appointed MoS for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Animal Husbandry in the Modi government. Even as he was dropped from the ministry two years later, his tenure was marked by his focus on rural development and empowering local businesses. He retained the seat in 2024 when the BJP made a clean sweep in Odisha. But for all his political success, Sarangi remains a controversys child and a polarising figure. The 1999 Graham Staines murder has loomed over his career. He was the Bajrang Dal state chief when the Australian missionary and his two sons were burnt alive by a mob led by Dara Singh in Manoharpur village of Keonjhar. While Dara Singh was stated to be a member of Bajrang Dal, Sarangi denied his or the outfits involvement in the crime. For Sarangi who has led ideological and political street fights for a major part of his career, the image of him standing bloodied as a victim could well shape his future. How, only time will tell.
Woman found dead in Bargarh dist
Showcause notice to two Puri temple servitors
IOCL to set up 4,382cr megayarn unit in Bhadrak district
Farmers in coastal, southern dists crease brows over crop loss
Climate change threat to Asian horseshoe crabs: Study
Avian guests from 8 nations arrive in Hirakud
7-year-old boy dies from snake bite
15 injured as bus plunges into Kpada
Forest officials of 3 states on alert over mass hunting
Army man honoured during final rites
Farmers in 4 districts worry over crop loss
Officer takes small steps to make the state hunger-free
Focus on collaboration between Odia & Bengali
Extreme weather claims 1,332 lives in Odisha over five years
Odisha 2nd in country for max increase in forest cover
Vital roads to be decorated with lights for Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
Heavy rain paralyzes life in Cuttack
30-yr-old man held for rape in Ganjam
Engrs initiative helps transform rural childrens lives in Sambalpur
Mentally ill Cgarh man reunited with mom, abandoned at Rourkela stn
HC: Performance reports of govt staffers should be prepared with care
Odisha adds 559 sq km of forest, tree cover from 2021 to 2023: Govt report
Bhubaneswar: Odisha added 559 sq km of combined forest and tree cover between 2021 and 2023, according to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023. The report, which was released Saturday, also noted that Odishas forest cover alone rose by 152 sq km. Across India, forest and tree cover grew by 1,445 sq km []
Design changes to Parikrama project on the cards in Odisha
BHUBANESWAR: The Srimandir Parikrama, the ambitious project launched by the previous BJD government, will soon see a change in its design. Yagna Mandaps will be added to the 75-metre heritage corridor around the 12th-century Shree Jagannath temple. Law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said the government is considering the construction of mandaps like Kruta Yagna, Anna Yagna and Gyana Yagna and the modalities will be decided within two to three months. Deliberations on change of design and new elements are currently underway. Since the Parikrama project is associated with the religious sentiments of the Odias, the matter will be discussed properly, he said while speaking to media persons in the city. The Law minister added that change in Parikrama design has been under consideration of the state government for some time. With addition of new elements to the old design, a new design change will be made to the project, the Law minister said. During its inauguration in January, the Srotriya Brahmins who were appointed by Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb for conducting maha yagna for the inauguration, had urged the then chief minister Naveen Patnaik to retain four yagna kundas which were set up for the purpose. They had said that the yagna kundas can be used to revive the tradition of maha yagnas in the shrine. Meanwhile, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has decided to implement a dress code for Supakar servitors who are responsible for selling Mahaprasad in the Ananda Bazaar from December 25. As per the decision, which has been approved by the Suara Mahasuara Nijog, they will wear saffron-coloured uniforms. The decision has been taken to prevent unauthorised servitors from selling Mahaprasad, dry prasad, khaja and other items in Ananda Bazaar.
CM Mohan Majhi seeks special tourism package for Odisha in Union Budget
BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday sought a special package for the development of the tourism sector in Odisha in the central budget for 2025-26. At the pre-budget consultation meeting, presided over by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at Jaisalmer, he said the state needs about Rs 10,000 crore investment to create world-class tourism infrastructure. While making the demand, the CM referred to the special mention made by the union finance minister in her budget speech of 2024-25 about the tourism potential of the state. The chief minister also sought support from the Centre to create an eco-system to attract investment to Odisha to implement Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision to make the state growth engine of the country in the coming years. Implementation of central projects like Sagarmala, east coast economic corridor and national waterway 5 should be expedited to significantly augment Odishas industrialisation, he said and suggested a dedicated central scheme under Purvodaya initiative be introduced for critical infrastructure development in eastern states, including Odisha. Majhi urged for central support in enhancing the capacity of Paradip Port, including the expansion of its container handling infrastructure. Besides, the Centre should provide assistance for fast-tracking environmental clearances for industrial infrastructure projects. Seeking financial support for industrialisation in aspirational districts, he said that a rare earths complex should be established in Odisha. Odisha urbanisation requires substantial investment: CM Citing Odishas lower urbanisation rate, the CM pitched for a new scheme for supporting states with similar challenges. Cities are the engines of growth and migration of large population from villages to cities is inevitable, the chief minister said adding, that urbanisation in a state like Odisha needs huge capital investment for which central support is necessary. He also suggested that special assistance to states for capital investment should be increased to 60 per cent of the total allocation in the budget, leaving 40 pc for sectoral reforms which Majhi felt would ensure predictability of funds flow to the states as well as better utilisation. The chief minister said expectations of people from the new government are very high. The state was under the rule of a regional party for the last 24 years and there is a need for a transformation in the health, education and infrastructure sectors, he said and requested for adequate budgetary provisions. He also said uncovered blocks of Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar should be included under the aspirational blocks programme as these districts are home to PVTGs like Juang, Lodha, Bihor, and Mankidia.
Odisha: ED searches Niranjans properties
BHUBANESWAR: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out searches at the property linked to former Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Niranjan Patnaik. Sources in the central agency confirmed the raids but remained tight-lipped about the matter. Simultaneous searches were carried out in at least five locations across the state linked to Niranjan Patnaik. More details will be shared in the coming days, said ED sources. Though ED is yet to release a statement officially, sources said the investigation could be linked to the mining business in which the senior Congressmans kin have interests. Asked about the searches, Niranjan told the newspaper that he is involved in politics and is not a businessman. I am a political person and not a businessman. I have nothing to do with business. ED officers had also not served any notice to me. Please ask them, what they found during the searches, he said. Sources said ED officers questioned some of Niranjans family members for over 30 minutes earlier in the day. The development comes two days after ED conducted searches across four locations in Odisha and Delhi linked to opposition chief whip Pramila Malliks late brother Khirod Mallik over the alleged Rs 231 crore bank fraud case. In a statement issued on Friday, the central agency said during the searches, 505 suspected benami accounts of different individuals and SHGs were traced. ED says Khirod took deposits Over Rs 72 lakh in cash was frozen from these accounts and shares worth Rs 10 lakh were seized along with other incriminating documents like sale deeds, chequebooks and digital devices. Further investigation is underway, said the ED. ED said its investigation revealed NGO, Bharat Integrated Social Welfare Agency (BISWA) was run by Khirod under the guise of financing self-help groups and joint liability firms. However, Khirod allegedly misutilised the funds and started accepting deposits from the public which was not allowed as per the RBI guidelines. The NGO was also involved in loan frauds amounting to over Rs 200 crore, read the statement.
Odisha's tribal lifter Jyoshna shatters youth Asian record
CHENNAI: Jyoshna Sabar created a youth Asian record for total lift at the ongoing Asian Youth Weightlifting Championships in Doha on Friday. She clinched a gold each in snatch (60kg), clean and jerk (75kg) and overall category (60+75=135kg) in the 40kg section at the event. Medal at an international meet is not new for the 16-year-old tribal girl from Odisha as she had already pocketed bronze medals at the 2023 edition of the continental event. Those medals came a couple of months after she won medals at the 2023 IWF Youth World Championships (bronze in total & silver in snatch). She bettered the results at the 2024 IWF Youth World Championships (silver in total and snatch and bronze in clean & jerk). What matters the most is her record overall lift of 135kg at the Doha event. Hailing from Pekata village of Rayagada tehsil in Gajapati district, Jyoshna's life changed for the better almost six years ago when she was spotted by scouts during a talent hunt drive at her Gram Vikas residential school in Kankia, Ganjam village. A year later, she shifted to the high-performance centre run by the state government in partnership with Tenvic Sports. When we visited her village last year after hermedals at the youth worlds, we noticed how difficult it was to reach there. Only one bus plies to the village. Her house is almost 10 kms from the bus stop, K Ravi Kumar, Olympian and secretary-general of the Odisha Weightlifting Association, told this daily. Her house was built with support from a cliff, which constituted one of the four walls. Father Kirttan Sabar is a small-time farmer while mother Gechameni is a housewife. Given her modest background, it's an achievement for her to come out of that place and win international medals, added Kumar. Jyoshna trained in Bhubaneswar till last year before being selected for a camp for youth weightlifters at NIS Patiala. Ramesh Chandra Padhi was her first coach at school. We donated weightlifting equipment to the school and there she trained with Padhi for almost a year. A lot of young girls and boys have been identified during such talent hunt programmes and Jyoshna is one among them. They can be the future of Indian weightlifting, signed off Kumar, who represented India at the 2012 London Olympics. Besides Jyoshna, India's Payal claimed 45kg gold with a total lift of 155kg (70 snatch + 85 clean and jerk). Her namesake won a bronze medal in the junior girls' 45kg competition, finishing on the podium after managing a total lift of 155 (70 snatch + 85 clean and jerk), while Babulal Hembrom ended third in the 49kg youth boys' section after lifting 197 (88 snatch + 109 clean and jerk).
2 men run over by truck in Sundargarh
Lecturer suspended for sending obscene messages to 3 students
Security guard stabbed to death
Odisha BJP holds Rahul Gandhi responsible for MP Sarangis injury, stages protest near Raj Bhavan
Bhubaneswar: Odisha BJP supporters on Friday staged a protest near Raj Bhavan, holding Congress leader Rahul Gandhi responsible for the injury of MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi during a scuffle on the Parliament premises. The protest, led by BJP state president Manmohan Samal, saw youth wing leaders submitting a memorandum to Governor Raghubar Das, addressed to []
Plan for 4-lane carriageway to connect Dhamra port & Jamujhari
Odisha seeks special package from Centre to develop tourism sector
Bhubaneswar: Stating that about Rs 10,000 crore of investment was needed to create world-class tourism infrastructure in Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Friday urged the Centre to announce a special package for it. He made the demand at the pre-budget consultation meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. We need []
BJP stir in city over Parl clash
Student detained for stabbing classmate in Kendrapada school
Farmers meet Bargarh collector over delay in paddy procurement
ORERA launches upgraded website
Close shave for 30 students after bus hits divider
HC orders BSF to pay Rs 10L to widow of farmer killed in crossfire
Orissa HC Flags Staff Shortage at SCB Medical College as State Admits Healthcare Gaps
Govt transport app to provide women cab & auto drivers soon
Plan for dedicated cargo flight for agri exports: Dy CM
Zeenat covers 3 states in 12 days to enter Bengal
Govt plans to modify Puri Parikrama project design with new features
ED searches ex-OPCC chiefs properties in bank fraud case
6 held for selling Lord Jagannaths land using forged docus
BJP MP PP Chaudhary to chair mega parliamentary panel on simultaneous polls bills
NEW DELHI: BJP member PP Chaudhary was on Friday appointed chairman of the mega joint committee of Parliament set up to examine bills proposing simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla constituted the 39-member committee and appointed Chaudhary, a former Union minister of state for law and justice, as its chairman. Earlier, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal had moved resolutions in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha to refer the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill to a joint committee of the two Houses. The government decided to increase the committee's strength from 31 to 39 as more political parties expressed the desire to be part of the exercise to examine the two draft legislations that seek to fulfil the BJP's long-cherished promise of simultaneous elections. Former Union ministers Anurag Thakur, Parshottam Rupala, Manish Tewari and several first-term lawmakers, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Bansuri Swaraj and Sambit Patra, are members of the committee. The panel has 27 members from the Lok Sabha and 12 from the Rajya Sabha. One Nation One Election: Anurag Thakur, Priyanka Gandhi among LS MPs on parliament panel The two 'one nation, one election' bills, including one requiring an amendment in the Constitution, laying down the mechanism to hold simultaneous elections, were introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday after a fiery debate. The government agreed that the matter is very important and it relates to the reformation of the election process of our country, so we agreed to include most of the prominent political parties, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told reporters. He said there was no limit on the size of the joint committee of Parliament and pointed out that one parliamentary panel examining centre-state relations had 51 members. Among the 39 members of the committee, 16 are from the BJP, five from the Congress, two each from the SP, TMC and the DMK, and one each from the Shiv Sena, TDP, JD-U, RLD, LJSP(RV), JSP, Shiv Sena-UBT, NCP-SP, CPI-M, AAP, BJD and YSRCP. The NDA has 22 members and 15 are from the opposition INDIA bloc. The BJD and the YSRCP are not members of the ruling or the opposition coalition. The BJD is yet to spell out its stand on simultaneous polls while the YSRCP has backed the move. Earlier, the government had decided to constitute a 31-member panel but Shiv Sena-UBT member Anil Desai and others had complained of being excluded. As per the resolution moved by Meghwal, the committee has been asked to submit its report to the Lok Sabha by the first day of the last week of the next session. However, considering the importance of the measure, the committee could get an extension in tenure as required. Other members of the committee are CM Ramesh, Vishnu Dayal Ram, Bhartruhari Mahtab, Anil Baluni, Vishnu Datt Sharma, Baijayant Panda, Sanjay Jaiswal, Ghanshyam Tiwari, Bhubaneswar Kalita, K Laxman and Kavita Patidar (all BJP), Sukhdeo Bhagat, Randeep Surjewala and Mukul Wasnik (all Congress), Dharmendra Yadav and Chhotelal (both SP), Kalyan Banerjee and Saket Gokhale (both TMC) and TM Selvaganapathi and P Wilson (both DMK). TDP member GM Harish Balayogi, Anil Desai (Shiv Sena-UBT), Supriya Sule (NCP-SP), Shrikant Shinde (Shiv Sena), Shambhavi (LJSP-RV), K Radhakrishnan (CPI-M), Chandan Chauhan (RLD), Balashowry Vallabhaneni (JSP), Sanjay Kumar Jha (JD-U), Sanjay Singh (AAP), Manas Ranjan Mangaraj (BJD) and V Vijayasai Reddy (YSRCP) are other members of the committee. 'One Nation, One Election' bill introduced in Lok Sabha, Opposition demands withdrawal
Odisha govt prescribes modalities for implementation of Panchasakha Sikhya Setu scheme
Bhubaneswar: Odisha government Friday prescribed modalities for the implementation of the Panchasakha Sikhya Setu(PSS) scheme. PSS is a flagship programme of the state government aiming to revamp school education by promoting volunteerism and collaboration through innovative citizen-government partnership. The newly elected BJP government has recently launched the Panchasakha Sikhya Setu (PSS) scheme in the state []
Parts of Odisha receive light rain
Bhubaneswar: Parts of Odisha received light rain Friday due to a well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, which is likely to intensify into a depression within the next 12 hours, the IMD said in the evening A Yellow Warning for heavy rainfall was issued for parts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur till []
ED Raids ex-Odisha Congress Chief's Residence
Bhubaneswar: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted raids on the residence of former Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president and ex-minister Niranjan Patnaik in Bhubaneswar. According to sources, the ED raid was on at Patnaiks house located in Nayapalli area in the state capital till the time of going to the press. The ED team comprising around eight to nine members is carrying out the raid from around 7 am today, sources informed, adding that the raids are underway at three places in Bhubaneswar. Though it is still unclear why the central agency is carrying out searches at the house of the senior Congress leader, it is suspected that illegal financial transactions might be the reason behind the ED action. No comment from Patnaik could be obtained over the ED raid. A couple of days ago, the central agency had also carried out raids on the houses of Opposition Chip Whip Pramilla Malliks brother late Khirod Malliks residence in New Delhi and three places in Sambalpur on Wednesday in connection with an alleged financial fraud amounting to Rs 231 crore. The raids were carried out for the second day on Thursday as well. Malliks non-governmental organisation (NGO)-Bharat Integrated Social Welfare Agency (BISWA), is under scrutiny for purportedly misusing a significant amount of funds.
Odisha to Introduce New Agricultural Policy Focusing on Organic Farming
Bhubaneswar : The Odisha government is set to introduce a new agricultural policy aimed at boosting organic farming across the state, Deputy Chief Minister and agriculture minister KV Singh Deo announced on Friday. Speaking at a workshop titled Advancing Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Odisha, Singh Deo highlighted plans to enhance agricultural production and facilitate the export of farmers' produce to international markets. To support this initiative, the state government is considering deploying a dedicated cargo flight service, the Deputy CM added. The new agricultural policy will follow a collaborative approach involving all agriculture-related departments. Expert opinions have been gathered during the workshop, organized with contributions from IFPRI, CGARI, and the state government. We need a holistic agricultural policy that helps farmers boost production, especially in organic farming. The excessive use of fertilizers can harm health, so shifting towards organic farming is essential, Singh Deo emphasised. Our farmers will gain maximum benefits if their produce reaches international markets. To facilitate this, we need a dedicated cargo flight service, he reiterated. Arabinda Padhee, Principal Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Department, stated, Odishas agricultural policy has been recognized as inclusive on global platforms. We will incorporate expert recommendations from the workshop while implementing the new policy.
Odisha: ED freezes Rs 82 lakh fund after raids against BJD MLAs late brothers firm
New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Deposits and shares worth Rs 82 lakh were frozen after the ED conducted raids against a social welfare organisation related to the deceased brother of a BJD MLA in Odisha as part of a bank fraud linked money laundering probe. The searches were undertaken December 18 at four locations in Odisha (Sambalpur) and []
New darshan system to be introduced in Puri Jagannath temple: SJTA chief
Bhubaneswar: Arrangements are being put in place to provide devotees better facilities for viewing the deities at the Jagannath Temple in Puri, an official said Friday. Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administrator Arabinda Padhee said the decision was made as devotees often face difficulties in getting a glance of the deities in the sanctum []
Premier art college set for Rs 2.51cr renovation
Koraput farmers supply 300 kg lemongrass oil to firm
3 held for abduction, gang rape of teen
BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi gifts 1984 bag to Priyanka Gandhi
New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Aparajita Sarangi Friday gifted a bag with 1984 written on it in red to Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. This comes days after the Congress MP carried bags with messages on Palestine and Bangladesh written on it to Parliament. Sarangi, the BJP MP from Bhubaneswar, gave the bag []
Bhubaneswar: ED raids residence of former OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik
Bhubaneswar: Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials conducted a raid on the residence of former Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik in Bhubaneswar, a source said Friday. The source added that the raid is underway at Patnaiks residence in the Nayapalli area of Bhubaneswar. The reason behind the central agencys action remains unclear as no []
Odisha BJP leaders slam Congress, Rahul Gandhi for scuffle in Parliament
Bhubaneswar: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Odisha criticised the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi over the scuffle inside the Parliament premises in Delhi. Two BJP MPs Pratap Chandra Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput sustained injuries during the scuffle, a source said. Speaking on the issue, BJP MLA Sanatan Bijuli said, I condemn []
Vedanta Kalinga Lancers unveil jersey and mascot
BHUBANESWAR : Vedanta Kalinga Lancers, the Odisha-based franchise in the upcoming Hockey India League, unveiled their official jersey, mascot and team anthem at a grand event held in Kalinga Stadium here on Thursday. The jersey was officially revealed by Sports and Youth Services minister Suryabanshi Suraj. The home jersey features a striking combination of blue and green, while the away jersey retains the vibrant orange and white. The new jersey design blends history, art, geography and progress, paying tribute to Odishas rich heritage and forward-looking aspirations, the franchisee officials said. After the jersey unveil, David John, the strategy director of Kalinga Lancers, expressed optimism about the team composition. During the auction, we picked our choice players as per our strategy. The HIL is going to restart after a gap of seven years. We are the defending champions and will try to keep the winning momentum on from the first match on December 28 at Rourkela, he said. Former India captain, coach and Arjuna awardee and now the team manager Dr AB Subbaiah said, Being the defending champion, all eyes will be on your players. We have a wealth of talent and experience in our team. They will act as a driving force for the team. Congratulating Vedanta for leading the franchisee, Subhaiah said eight young players from Odisha are in the team. They will have a great opportunity to learn from many experienced and overseas players. Among others, COO of Vedanta Aluminium and Director-Kalinga Lancers Sunil Gupta, Sports and Youth Services secretary Bhaskar Joyti Sarma, along with the Indian players were present on the occasion.
Adolescent-friendly space at Rajdhani College in Bhubaneswar
BHUBANESWAR : In order to involve adolescents as Public Space Ambassadors, the city-based Humara Bachpan Trust and World Resources Institute in collaboration with BMC are developing a model adolescent-friendly public space at Rajdhani college. The space is being developed using a tactical urbanism process, which focuses on low-cost, temporary interventions that aim to improve the functionality and livability of a public space. The initiative aims to create safe, healthy, and vibrant public spaces while empowering adolescents as public space ambassadors who actively participate in urban planning and decision-making processes. On December 17, capacity building workshop and public space audit took place at Rajdhani college where over a hundred adolescents came together to share ideas, conduct audits, and propose actionable designs to transform the space into a safe, inclusive, and vibrant area. Hands-on sessions and an on-site audit allowed the participants to evaluate the Rajdhani college frontage. The students shared actionable design recommendations to make the space more inclusive, vibrant, and welcoming. A preliminary design presentation was also reviewed by the participants for further feedback. The workshop was inaugurated by principal of the college Minati Mishra and Arpita Pattnaik, executive director of the trust, among others.
CM to attend pre-budget discussion with Nirmala at Jaisalmer
BJD chief resolves BeMC corporators rift
Illegal liquor unit busted in Berhampur; five arrested
Soldier from Koraput killed in Rajasthan
Odisha identified with 12,129 MW wind power generation: Union min
Odisha home to over 15 lakh fishermen, ranks 8th nationally: Union min
Odisha govt inducts armed cops to boost Similipal security
Street vendors in capital city protest eviction drive
Fact-finding team to investigate accident at Kalunga railway crossing
Elephant care centre proposed for Chandragiri reserve
Key infra projects reviewed at NPG meeting
BJD to celebrate 28th foundation day next week
Koraput to be made major tourist hub
Heat of Parliament felt in Odisha; Congress, Youth BJP hold protests against each other
Bhubaneswar: The shadow of the political slugfest between BJP and Congress in Parliament reached Odisha, as members of both parties held protests against each other in different parts of the state including Bhubaneswar Thursday. The Congress members staged demonstrations against Union Home Minister Amit Shahs alleged remarks on B R Ambedkar in places including Bhubaneswar, []
Research initiative to use machine learning to improve lightning forecasts
Cuttack to host Patha Utsav ahead of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
Bee attack disrupts school event, 30 students hospitalised
Odisha CM embarks on 5-day official visit to Rajasthan, Delhi
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Thursday embarked on a five-day visit to New Delhi and Rajasthan during which he will attend several official meetings, CMO sources said. Majhi who left Bhubaneswar Thursday evening will reach the national capital and spend night there before going to Jaipur in Rajasthan Friday. During his stay in []
None should play politics over melee in Parliament: BJD
Bhubaneswar: Odishas main opposition party Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Thursday said there should be no politics over the alleged physical altercation between MPs of the Congress and BJP in Parliament earlier in the day. The BJD, headed by former chief minister Naveen Patnaik, said that the incident has belittled the glory of Parliament. The truth []
Odisha to deploy dedicated armed police force in Similipal Tiger Reserve
BHUBANESWAR: In a first-of-its-kind move in the country, the Odisha government has initiated steps to deploy a dedicated company of armed police constabulary in Similipal to guard the tiger reserve in Mayurbhanj district. A letter from Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Home Satyabrata Sahu in this regard stated that the dedicated armed police reserve (APR) with 131 personnel will be created for the constitution of the Joint Task Force (JTF) notified by the state Forest and Environment department last year for protection of the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR). Even as Assam has the Special Rhino Protection Force (SRPF), an elite security force for the protection of one-horned rhinoceroses in Kaziranga National Park, the APR for Similipal is being considered to be a first-of-its-kind armed force specifically created for its deployment in a protected wildlife habitat. As per the ACS Homes letter, a company with 131 personnel will be headed by an assistant commandant and an armed inspector. It will also have three armed sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors, 30 havildars and 87 sepoys along with 3 driver havildars and as many drivers. The posts will be created for the Mayurbhanj district and the APR personnel will be recruited under relevant rules and provisions of the Orissa Reservation of Vacancies (ORV) Act. The expenditure towards deployment of the force will be borne by the Forest and Environment department. This dedicated company of APR will strengthen our protection measures in the STR further. Their deployment will be significant in view of wildlife wings efforts to supplement the existing population of big cats in ST, said PCCF Wildlife Prem Kumar Jha. STR sources said though the state government had deployed a company of around 100 armed police personnel along with forest personnel in the Tiger Reserve following notification on the formation of the JTF in August 2023, the police force was withdrawn during the time of general elections and never stationed back after that citing lack of notification for creation of a separate force. Apart from the armed constabulary, DFOs of Rairangpur, Karanjia, Baripada, the deputy directors of STR, additional SP or DSP (Operations) of Mayurbhanj and assistant conservator of Forest (ACF) in Similipal South Wildlife Division (Intelligence) are the members of the JTF. STR field director and chairman of the JTF Prakash Chand Gogineni said formation of the dedicated armed force for Similipal will bolster their anti-poaching efforts and help in maintaining law and order within the tiger reserve. The JTF will also collect intelligence and identify people holding illegal arms and ammunition in fringe and buffer villages of STR. It will prepare a database and take comprehensive action to de-weaponise villagers, STR officials said. After Zeenat, now tigress Jamuna too moves out of Similipal
Fraudsters impersonating IAS officers cheat job seekers in Odisha; one held
Bhubaneswar: A job fraud racket that duped job seekers of crores of rupees by impersonating senior IAS officers has been uncovered in Cuttack, Odisha. The Bidanasi police have arrested one individual, Daniel Raj, a resident of Subhadra Nagar, while the alleged mastermind, a woman, remains at large. The fraudsters posed as senior officers from Odishas panchayati raj and drinking water department to lure victims. They promised employment opportunities and leaked examination papers, convincing job seekers to pay large sums of money in installments. Once payments were made, the scammers would change their contact numbers and disappear. The racket has impacted individuals across Odisha, with many losing substantial amounts of money under the pretense of securing jobs through recruitment examinations. Victims reportedly paid crores in total before realizing they had been defrauded. The scam came to light after victims filed detailed complaints at the Bidanasi police station. Following these reports, law enforcement launched a rigorous investigation, leading to the arrest of Daniel Raj. Police are now intensifying efforts to capture the mastermind, whose arrest is expected to shed further light on the extent of the racket. This is a large-scale scam involving several accomplices. We are working on identifying and apprehending everyone involved, said a senior police officer. Authorities are also working to recover the defrauded money and provide relief to the victims. The case has sparked concern among locals, emphasizing the need for vigilance against fraudulent schemes targeting vulnerable job seekers. The investigation remains ongoing, with law enforcement agencies determined to dismantle the network and ensure justice for the victims.
This type of violence has no place in democracy: Odisha CM on Sarangis injury in Parliament
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Thursday said he was praying for the speedy recovery of BJPs Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi, claiming that he got injured because of the irresponsible and objectionable behaviour of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Parliament. Majhi said such actions of Gandhi were not only unacceptable but also an insult []
Odisha sets up dedicated armed force unit for wildlife protection in Similipal Tiger Reserve
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has set up a dedicated company of Armed Police Reserve (APR) force to strengthen wildlife protection in Similipal Tiger Reserve, a notification by the home department said. The APR force with 131 personnel of different categories will form a joint task force, said another notification issued by the Forest, Environment & []
Odisha DyCM directs officials for recovery of electricity dues of industrial units
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo has asked Energy department officials to take steps for recovery of pending electricity dues of industrial units. Singh Deo gave this direction while chairing a review meeting focused on the recovery of pending electricity duties from industrial units Wednesday, an official statement said. The DyCM, who []
BHUBANESWAR : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted searches across four locations in Odisha and outside linked to opposition chief whip Pramila Malliks late brother Khirod Mallik over the alleged Rs 231 crore bank fraud case. Sources said the central agency conducted simultaneous searches at three locations in Sambalpur and one in New Delhi during the day. Khirod was accused of swindling a whopping Rs 231 crore from various banks across Odisha and other states through his NGO, Bharat Integrated Social Welfare Agency (BISWA). In Sambalpur, ED officers reportedly conducted searches at BISWAs office in Danipali and a building in Modipara. Khirod, who passed away earlier this year, was accused of availing loans through fraudulent means on the pretext of lending money to self-help groups (SHGs) and misutilising the same. In 2021, the Central Bureau of Investigation had registered a case against Khirod and chartered accountant KC Samal for failing to repay a loan amount of Rs 10 crore which was sanctioned by Central Bank of India in favour of BISWA in 2010. CBI investigation had revealed that Khirod had cheated several other financial institutions too. CBI had booked case against NGO The ED then registered a case against BISWA under the prevention of money laundering act (PMLA) for swindling the money of various banks and failing to pay back the loans. The NGO was also accused of misusing foreign funds. The Economic Offences Wing of Mumbai Crime Branch had arrested Khirod and his son Debabrata from their residence in Sambalpurs Thakurpada area in 2019 over alleged financial irregularities. Earlier in 2014, Khirod was arrested by EOW of Odisha Crime Branch for allegedly cheating investors to the tune of Rs 10 crore. Investigation had revealed NGO BISWA was not registered as a non-banking financial institution.
BJDs price rise demo on Jan 6, Naveen Patnaik asks leaders to raise their voice
BHUBANESWAR : BJD president and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday called upon party leaders to raise voice against the BJP governments failure to control price rise which he said has hit the poor and middle class. The BJD also announced a massive demonstration on January 6 at Bhubaneswar to highlight price rise of essential commodities and other issues. In an open letter to all party functionaries and workers ahead of the 28th foundation day of BJD on December 26, the former chief minister said the day will be observed in all assembly constituencies. Stating that the regional party is totally dedicated to the service of people of Odisha since the last 27 years, Naveen said though the BJP formed the government in the state, people have given more votes to the BJD. As a responsible Opposition, the BJD will raise peoples voice in different forums, he said and added that party works for the betterment of all sections of society on the ideology and policies of Biju Patnaik. The BJD will reach out to all and work with dedication to serve the people in 2025, he added. Addressing a press conference here, senior BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra said the January 6 demonstration will be over price rise of all essential commodities and inflation. Targeting the BJP for its slogan of double-engine sarkar, Mishra said it has turned into double failure government in the state as well as at the Centre. Senior party leader and former minister Sanjay Dasburma said the over 5,000 party members are expected to participate in the demonstration which will focus on key issues faced by the people of Odisha, particularly price rise.
Case against Ravenshaw univ teacher for forging poll officers signature
Man suspended for alleged misconduct
Deputy CM on 2-day visit to Koraput
