Negligence of Railways takes lives of jumbos: State Govt

Elephant death: No consensus comes out from Min meeting

--FIR lodged against train driver

KISHORE MANGARAJ

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Monday convened a high-level meeting under the chairmanship of Forest and Environment Minister Bijayshree Routray here on Monday with the top railway officers following the death of elephants mowed down by Chennai bound Howrah-Chennai Coromandel super fast express at Subalaya under Rambha police station in Ganjam district. The meeting failed to reach consensus, though the both department officials took one and a half hour for discussion. 

During the meeting a blame game started between the forest and the railway officers over the death of the jumbos. Briefing the Media, Routaray alleged that the mishap took place due to the negligence of the railway authorities. While the railway authorities said that they were not properly informed before the train crushed the elephants.

The Minister showed the letter of the Forest Range officer of Khallikote who had written to the Divisional Railway Manager at Khurda Road on December 18, 2012 to alert the railway authorities to take precautions for prevention of death of wild life (Elephant) who were frequently passing the railway lines in between Rambha and Humma station. He requested the authorities to direct their staff to allow the passing trains from railway post 557/21-22 to 568/7-8 with slow speed.  

The Minister said that seven signboards are there within 6 km difference. Third signboard was situated about 3 km away from first signboard where accident occurred, he added. “It was the fault of the railway officers as they didn’t sensitise their drivers for slow speed,” he alleged.

Routaray further said that on September 4, 2009, a meeting was held in between the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest and Ministry of Railway to take the precautionary measure for the elephant corridor. The decision was taken to keep clear the vegetable growth specially in curves/bends for better visibility at least 30 metres from both the side of the rail track, putting of proper signage’s on both the sides of these section, need powerful locomotive beam, to limit speed is highly vulnerable sections and etc. The Railway authority has not abided the guide line for the elephant corridor and the information issued by the range officer, Khallikote for prevention of the death of the wild life by rail accident.

The Range Officer of the Khallikote registered a case against the driver at the nearest police station as per the Wild Life Act. The investigation into the matter is on. If any top railway official comes under scanner, they would come to the purview of inquiry and the responsibility would be fixed on them, the Minister said.   

Further, he added, Government would write letter to the Minister for Railways and Union Minister for Forest and Environment to direct their respective departments to follow the guidelines to save the wildlife in the State.

Among others, Divisional Railway Manager Sanjay Mohanty, Sr Divisional Manager Ashok Kumar, Chef Manager, Passenger and Trafffic, Deepak Jha, Chief Traffic Inspector DK Patnaik and senior officials of the Forest Department were present in the meeting.

PFA stages demo to save jumbos in State

BHUBANESWAR: Condemning the death of six elephants by train accident in Ganjam, the People for Animals (PFA), India’s largest animal welfare organisation, staged demonstration here on Monday protesting the callousness of the Government bodies to protect the heritage animal. Later, they handed over a letter regarding the incident to the Chief Minister, Forest and Environment Minister, Forest Secretary and PCCF Wildlife.

PFA secretary Jiban Ballav Das said that death of the elephants is a great loss for the State and also threat to the elephant population. Though the State and Centre claim that they are taking initiative to save the elephants, the repeated death of elephants in our State shows the callousness of the forest department, railway and power distribution companies, he added.

“Still now, nobody is taking responsible for such fatal incident,” Das said, adding, “No action has been taken so far against anybody except mudslinging between the concerned departments.”

PFA condemned the incident which never happened in the State before. The organisation demanded action against the people those who are responsible for the death as per wildlife Protection Act. “Disciplinary action should also be taken against the forest staff engaged in that areas for the negligence of their duty for which the innocent elephants died,” said the members.

Two hardcore Maoists arrested from Rayagada

BHUBANESWAR: Two hardcore Maoists guerrilla were arrested by the joint forces of CRPF and State police from Kharikuti village of Gudari police station in Rayagada district on Monday, police sources said.

The two were identified as Shravan Gardanka and Picha Gagaranga of Bansadhara division of CPI (Maoist) organisation. The two were involved in Sorada police outpost and Chandrapur police station attack case, the police said.

“The joint forces seized two landmines, detonators and 50 metre long wires from the possession of the Maoists during combing operation in the area,” said additional superintendent of police (Rayagada) Rabi Narayan Shi.

  

Air conditioned city buses set to hit road

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has decided to ply 12 air conditioned city buses along with 48 new buses in the city by the end of the May, 2013. It was decided in a meeting held on December 26.

Out of the total 12 air conditioned buses, six each on Cuttack-Puri via Bhubaneswar and Nandankanan-Airport routes via Jaydev Vihar, would be run, said an officer of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The city bus service would be started in Brahmapur city which would have 24 additional buses for the city, he added.

The air conditioned buses would cost around Rs 40 lakh, while standard bus and mini buses would cost Rs 25 lakh and Rs 12 lakh respectively. The HUD department would spend Rs 15 crore for extension of the fleet of Bhubaneswar-Puri Transport Services Limited (BPTSL) and Rs 5 crore for city bus services under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

  

Odia girl Apurva bags Nanhipari title

BHUBANESWAR: The ‘Nanhipari- Little Miss India’ title was claimed by Odisha’s Apurva Das at the closing ceremony of Nanhipari-2012 at the Sai International School campus here on Sunday.

Nanhipari is a national-level talent search event exclusively for girls to discover talents who are perfect combinations of beauty with brains and a positive personality. It was launched as a State-level event in 2001 at the town of Keonjhar before moving to Bhubaneswar a couple of years later.

Girls between the age group of 10 and 13 from across the country are eligible to participate in this contest that takes into consideration their talent, personality and beauty.

This year, 15 applicants from eight States were considered for the semi-final round. While Apurva was awarded cash prize of Rs 1 lakh apart from the crown and the memento, first runners-up Anusuya Gogoi of Assam received Rs 20,000 and second runners-up Diyansi Burma received Rs 10,000 as cash award. Apurva was crowned by Nanhipari of last year Akankhya Kabi.  

Elephants trample three to death in S’garh

ROURKELA: Three persons, including a couple, were trampled to death by wild elephants in two separate incidents in Sundargarh district on Saturday night, official sources said.

The couple was identified as William and Phulmani Ekka of Jharmunda village under Ujjwalpur forest range in the district. On Saturday night, a tusker crushed the couple when they were fast asleep in their house, they said. Earlier on December 25, the elephant which killed the two had also crushed to death another person of the same village.

In the second incident, one Ramprakash Rout of Sanparsara village near Kacharu was trampled to death by another herd of pachyderms last night, sources said. A few days back, two persons escaped from wild elephants near Kacharu jungle, when the animal damaged their bike.

The elephants also damaged the houses of some villagers after crushing the couple. Meanwhile, the forest personnel have decided to camp in the village to keep eye on the movement of the wild pachyderms in that area, Ranger, Ujjwalpur Forest Range, Pradeep Pujari.   

It may be noted that a total of nine persons including a forest personnel have been killed due to jumbo attacks this year.

Six jumbos run over by train in Ganjam

--12 elephants die in 3 months in Ganjam

BRAHMAPUR/BHUBANESWAR: In a heartrending incident, six jumbos including two calves were killed when a speeding train hit the pachyderms at Subalaya village under Rambha police station in Ganjam district, 40 km from here, on late Saturday night. One contractual railway employee also died on the spot when he lost control and fell off the moving train during the mishap.

At around 1 am on Sunday, the herd of five elephants including a tusker with a calf and three female elephants, while crossing the railway line at Subalaya village in between Rambha and Humma railway station, was hit by Chennai bound Howrah-Chennai Coromandel Super Fast Express, forest officials said.

“After the fatal accident, the fully developed fetus of a pregnant elephant came out of the womb and died in the spot,” said Brahmapur Divisional Forest Officer SS Mishra. The train speed was so high as a result the body parts of the elephants fell hither and thither, said the forest officials. The forest officials have sent the carcasses for postmortem.

Meanwhile, forest and railway officials have arrived on the spot and started investigation. After the incident, the rail services between Brahmapur and Bhubaneswar were affected for seven hours on the busy route, East Cost Railway (ECoR) sources said.

Following the incident, State Forest and Environment Minister Bijayshree Routray called an urgent meeting with senior Railway officials on Monday to discuss on the rising jumbo death issue in the State. If needed, he would bring to the matter to the notice of Chief Minister to take appropriate action to check the problem, Routray added.

For the first time in the history of the State, six elephants died at a time in train mishap. In the month of June this year, a female elephant was killed in the same train accident near Subalaya village. Earlier on August 15, four jumbos were killed in train mishap in Keonjhar district while crossing railway track.

It may be noted that 12 elephants were killed in the district within three months due to various reasons, while 11 elephants were killed due to the train accident in the State this year. The State has already seen the death of 252 pachyderms in the State during 2009 and this August, official sources said.

 

Congress, BJD two sides of coin: Yuva Utkal Bharat

BHUBANESWAR: “Congress and Biju Janata Dal are two sides of a coin,” said the leaders of Yuva Utkal Bharat (YUB) during workers meet here on Sunday. The campaign for 2014 election has been formally started by the youth wing of the party.

The corruption and scams has been increased rapidly which affect the development process of the State badly, said the party members, adding, the Government failed to address the core issues of the common people of the State as a result the public would dethrone the rulling party on the coming election.

The party would go to the people with two issues- hypocrisy of rulling party’s for providing 2-a-kg rice to the BPL families and secret relation with Congress party. The party would start various movements to make aware the people of the State about the hypocrisy of the State and Centre towards Odisha, said the members of the party.

YUB president Abhishek Joshi, Utkal Bharat vice-president Loknath Sarangi, spokesperson Benudhar Samant, State Secretary Bratati Cheterjee, YUB general secretary Debabrata Tripathy and vice president Sanatan Dalbehera were present.       

Two-day meet of heads of Jati Janajati ends

--‘Stop cattle trafficking, don’t sale temples’ land’

BHUBANESWAR: The heads and chiefs (Mukhias) of 122 Jati and Janajati on Sunday demanded complete rollback of the decision to sale lands of temples and monasteries in the State. It was said by the Mukhias during a rally at the Lower PMG here on the sidelines of two-day meet organised by the Jati Janajati Sanskrutika Samaroha Samiti where about 2,500 people from across the State have participated.

The Mukhias in their four-point resolution mentioned that illegal cattle trafficking are now a major problem in the State and the Government failed to address the issues. They also said that illegally motivating the simple tribals and dalits to other religions is posed a major threat in the society which should be stopped by the Government by amending the law.

 “The aim of the conference is to establish social harmony among the community people based on mutual trust and cooperation and motivate them to join the national mainstream,” said Samiti president Arun Kumar Panda.

At the mega public meeting in the Lower PMG, tribal saints of Sabar, Santhal, Ganda, Oram, Kui, Bonda, Munda, Kolha and Bhuyan community attended the programme. Among the non-tribals, saints of Bhima Bhoi and Baishnav faiths joined.

Among others, eminent social activists like Krushna Gopal, Mukund Rao Panasikar, Mahesh Tripathy, Sudarshan Nayak, Baba Brajasundar Das from Kaniha, Swami Shivananda Saraswati of Sambalpur and Kasta Charan Das from Redhakhol were present.

Civil bodies demand justice to Delhi gang-rape victim

BHUBANESWAR: Following the death of the Delhi gang-rape victim in a Singapore hospital, the social organisations and civil bodies along with the students on Saturday came in different processions demanding justice to the victim and security for the women in the society. In the evening some women organisations and student groups hold candle light march to pay homage to the girl.

Women organisations like National Alliance of Women (Odisha), Women Congress, CPI (M), All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), Aaina and girl students of various colleges staged a peace procession condemning the brutal attack on the victim.

The Civil Society of the city during the procession demanded exemplary action against the culprits, strengthening of laws for the security of women, suspension of Delhi Police Commissioner and the Central Home Secretary for neglecting in duty. The Civil Society also demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Sindhe.

According to a women rights activist Tapasi Praharaj, the Government should take immediate action to check the rape incidents which is increasing in 24 per cent rate and the Delhi incident should not be occurred again in the society. Amendment of law for taking action against the rapists is need of the hour, she added.

“Time bound justice can solve many problems, but it is not happening in our country. The police, in some cases, modify the medical report of the victim to hide the truth of the incident which is a dangerous trend,” said Praharaj, adding, “This is the time for the law makers of the country to think about the issue deeply.”

               

Agitated students open Sangeet Mahavidyalaya gate

BHUBANESWAR: Students of Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya decided to open the college gate which was locked by the students on Wednesday demanding creation of art teacher posts in primary schools, while the agitation would be continue in the colleges across the State, said the students at a Press meet here on Saturday.

“Keeping eye on the national and international dance, music and art festivals that would be held in the Utkal Mandap situated inside the campus, the agitated students took the decision for the betterment of the festivals,” said State secretary of the Odisha Sikhita Bekar Kalakar Manch (OSBKM), adding, “But they would not call off the strike till their demands are fulfilled.”

According to the students, the Minister of Culture along with the Minister and secretary of School and Mass Education discussed the matter with them during the winter session of the assembly and assured that a notification would be released within January 15. If the Government fails to keep its words, they would take it to the streets, they added.

All the seven art and craft college students in the State would wear black badges and boycott class rooms supporting the demand.

8-inch crack on Lingaraj temple crest found

BHUBANESWAR: Eight-inch crack was found on the Dadhi Nauti (crest) of the Lingaraj temple, confirmed the technical expert team of Archeological Survey of India (ASI) here on Saturday. The north side of the crest has the crack, said the team members.

After the inspection, the ASI expert team found that the crest has eight inch crack. Explaining the reason of the crack, the ASI team member AK Patel said that the heat of the flames of Deep expands the crest and squeezes in the winter time and the frequent thermal expansion creates crack, he added.

According to head of the ASI technical expert team Gopal Mitra, they are discussing on the matter as it poses threat to the crest of the century-old heritage temple in the city. The team members are planning to replace a strong metal which can bear the heat, Mitra added.

The team would place a new crest on the top of the temple replacing the original and the original crest would be given for repairing. After the repairing, that could be set in the temple again, informed the Lingaraj Temple Administration officials sources.      

It may be noted that on June 15 this year, the Dadhi Nauti of Mairigiria temple, inside the Lingaraj temple premises fell down as lightning struck the temple.

‘Community chiefs should solve disputes of people amicably’

BHUBANESWAR: “The heads and chiefs of various castes and tribes in the State should solve the disputes of their community people in the way of mutual understanding,” said social activist Dr Krushna Gopalji while addressing the mass on the inauguration of the State-level conference of Heads and Chiefs of Jati and Janajati here on Saturday.

Gopalji also said the simple and poor people of the community are getting trouble due to police cases, land problems and some other problems which could be solved by the people of the community. The heads and chiefs (Mukhias) of the Jatis and Janajatis should help their people to live in peace, he added.

The two-day conference was organised by the Jati Janajati Sanskrutika Samaroha Samiti, a forum working for betterment of the tribes and sub-tribes in the State, for the first time in the State where 2500 people across the State participated.

“The main aim of organising the conference is to eradicate these evils and establish social harmony based on mutual trust and cooperation and to motivate them to join the national mainstream,” said Samiti president Arun Kumar Panda. A mega public meeting would be organised at the Lower PMG on Sunday, said Samiti secretary Binay Kumar Bhuyan.

Among others, Mukund Rao Panasikar, Mahesh Tripathy, Sudarshan Nayak, Baba Brajasundar Das from Kaniha, Swami Shivananda Saraswati of Sambalpur and Kasta Charan Das from Redhakhol were present.

Pyari Morcha rally at Baripada today

BHUBANESWAR: Following the positive response from the supporters and workers during two different rallies at the capital and Bhawanipatna, the Odisha Jan Morcha (OJM) is going to organise its much discussed third rally at Baripada in Mayurbhanj district on Friday.

The workers and members of the Morcha are all prepared for the Kranti Samabesh. Street play is the new addition in the rally through which the artists would make aware about the present situation of the State and present rulling party’s carelessness attitude towards solving the problems of the public.

The executive body members of the Manch along with its chief Pyarimohan Mohapatra would address the mass in the rally. The members may raise anti-Naveen voices in the party and the important information about floating of its new electoral party. The OJM members have high hope on the rally’s success.

This time also Mohapatra alleged that the BJD people are planning to foil the rally. “We have public support which compels the BJD to stay away from us. It may be noted the first rally was held here on September 28 and second one in Bhawanipatna on November 19 where Mohapatra had alleged that the rulling party people obstructed rally-bound vehicles.

Tigress roaming freely on city outskirts

BHUBANESWAR: The forest department officials on Friday confirmed that the tigress and its child are freely roaming around the Chandaka-Dampada sanctuary on the outskirts of the city. The people are in panicky after getting news about the presence of the wild animals in their locality.

On December 24, according to the report, the tigress and its child had come to drink water from Khiragadia pond, near Talabasta village. After the scientific inquiry into the foot mark of the tigress and her child, the forest officials proved that the rumour was true.

“I found the foot marks of the tigress and a baby cab near a pool at Talabasta. According to our scientific measurement we got to know about the presence of the animals in the area,” said Chandaka-Dampada DFO Sib Narayan Mohapatra.

The local villagers under Dampada forest area are in panicky due to the presence of the tigress. No one knows when and where the animal would attack on them.            

Congress criticises BJD over Cash Transfer System

BHUBANESWAR: Following the statement of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the 57th National Development Council (NDC) meeting in New Delhi for reviewing of its recently adopted direct cash transfer scheme (DCTS), the Pradesh Congress Committee on Friday criticised the BJD Government for not accepting the scheme.

PCC president Niranjan Patnaik said the BJD Government is opposing the scheme fearing that the scheme would prove the false claim of the Chief Minister’s 2-a-kg rice campaign during last 12 years. “The rulling party will be exposed, if the Central Government implements the scheme,” PCC president added.

Patnaik said that the time of BJD’s so called claim of step-motherly attitude against the Central Government would be gradually vanished as most of the schemes are controlled by the Centre. The Naveen Government is taking advantages of centrally sponsored schemes in its name, he added.

It may be noted that the Chief Minister on Thursday urged the UPA Government to review its recently adopted DCTS. In the meeting, BJD supremo suggested that the objective of the food and nutrition security can be more effectively addressed at present by bringing improvements in the public distribution system (PDS) and in other cases, by improving the banking infrastructure first, an official release said.

Technology solutions for a safe childhood in city slums

BHUBANESWAR: “Every 8th child in India lives in slums, it’s time we start taking issues such as insecure housing, lack of sanitation system, access to clean water and lack of space to play on a much more serious note,” said Bernard van Leer Foundation’s India representative Dharitri Patnaik, Urban spaces are extending, so there is high incidence of migrated population into the city, which makes the children growing up in urban areas more vulnerable as their basic rights are not being attended.

Speaking at, a workshop organised under the campaign initiative of Humara Bachpan –Early Childhood Matters on demonstration of appropriate technology solutions for a safe and healthy environment for children, Commissioner, BMC Sanjib  Mishra said “Technology has to be judiciously distributed for sustainable development of people in urban areas. Technology can be rightly used as a weapon for eradication of issues that confront people in slums in the city; when there is an understanding about how our children will be benefited by our initiatives”.

Speaking during the workshop a slum-dweller Debashis Nayak from Bharatpur Basti said “Providing a high technological resource is not the solution, there has to be a thoughtful approach about our needs and simultaneously our children’s needs. We would only be benefited when the approach would be ‘need based’. We need technology, but that has to resolve our problems” Practical Action with its local partner Ruchika Social Service Organisation (RSSO) which has been working for justifiable use of technology for better water and sanitation facilities in Odisha aims to build a safer environment for the children growing up in urban poverty.

 “Under the campaign ‘Humara Bachpan’ we aim to create ideal urban spaces which are safer for the children living in poverty. And demonstration of the use of appropriate technology for sustainable water, sanitation and waste management will be demonstrated in the three slums, especially in schools and Anganwadis. There will be improved access to safe drinking water, and better sanitation facilities and improved hygiene practices among children in 3 slums of Bhubaneswar resulting in 40% reduction in water-borne and hygiene related diseases in the project area” said Mihir Mohanty, National Campaign Coordinator.

Odia novelist Pratibha Ray to get Jnanpith Award

BHUBANESWAR: Eminent Odia novelist and story teller Padmashri Dr Pratibha Ray has been selected for the most coveted literary honour Jnanpith award for the year of 2011 for her excellent contributions to the field of Indian literature. After the gap of 19 years, Odia literature got India’s most prestigious literary award. 

Dr Ray would be the fourth Odia writer to receive the prestigious award after novelist Gopinath Mohanty who had received the award in 1973, poet Sachidananda Routray in 1986 and Dr Sitakant Mohapatra in 1993. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 7 lakh, a citation and a bronze replica of Goddess Saraswati.

The Padmashri awarded writer, who has already won the Bharatiya Jnanpith Trust’s Moorti Devi Award (1991) for her most acclaimed work Yajnaseni, would be the seventh woman in the country to get Jnanpith award.

Her most popular works are Mahamoh (1997), Shilapadma (1983) and Uttarmarg (1988), Parichya (1979), Punyatoya (1979), Magnamati (2004) centred on the cyclone that ravaged Odisha in 1999 and other works.

The novelist was born on January 21, 1943, at Alabol, a remote village in the Balikuda area of Jagatsinghpur district. She had started her literary journey from her first novel Barsha Basanta Baishakha (1974).

Dr Ray has received many other awards including Odisha Sahitya Academi Award in 1985 for her novel ‘Sheelapadma’, ‘Sarala Award’ for her novel ‘Yajnaseni’ in 1990 and ‘Sahitya Akademi Award’ for her short-story collection ‘Ullaghna’ in 2000.

Jawan injured in landmine explosion in Rayagada

RAYAGADA: A security personnel of anti-naxal Special Operations Group (SOG) was critically injured when a landmine planted by Maoists exploded in Rayagada district on Thursday. The incident happened during combing operation led by the joint forces of SOG and CRPF at Dangarareli in Kalyansingpur police station limit, police said. 

 

The injured jawan Satyabrata Das was rushed to Kalyanpur Community Health Centre and then shifted to Visakhapatnam for further treatment. The forces seized some wires and explosive materials from the spot. 

According to Rayagada SP Rajesh Pandit, the landmine exploded when a group of the elite anti-Maoist force was walking in the forest in Kalyansinghpur area as part of routine combing operations. “The health condition of the jawan is stable and he is out of danger. The combing operations in the area have been intensified,” said Pandit.

‘National Judicial Commission needed to ensure fairness in judiciary’

-- National conference of ABAP held in city

BHUBANESWAR: “We have to improve our investigations and criminal justice system in such a way that the culprits can be punished,” said Supreme Court judge AK Patnaik while addressing the lawyers at the 13th national conference of Akhil Bhartiya Adhivakta Parishad (ABAP) here on Wednesday.

Patnaik said the investigation machinery should be separated from the law enforcement machinery to ensure the better criminal judicial system. “When State judiciary is responsible for giving effect to the central laws, then the centre should pay 50 per cent of the expenses that the State bears for judiciary in all respects,” he added.

In his inauguration speech, the Supreme Court judge said that advocates should not commercialise the legal profession because it disturbs the routine of the court.

Parliamentarians and the ministers should implement the constitutional obligations and objectives enshrined in part IV of the constitution taking the national interest at the forefront, he advised.

Gracing the occasion, Supreme Court Bar Association president MN Krishnamani focused that appointment of Judges should be made transparent in the higher judiciary and National Judicial Commission should be established to ensure fairness in judiciary.

About 1500 delegates including Supreme Court and High Court Judges, noted advocates from sub-division court to the apex court across the country participated in the three-day long conference on the topic of ‘Vitalising Constitutional and Democratic Institutions’ which advocates to promote ethical standard among the lawyers and to ensure that the country has a great constitution and judicial system.

Five arrested for raping a girl in Sundergarh

ROURKELA: Five persons were arrested and forwarded to the court on Wednesday for raping a girl who was returning to her home after attending a fair near her village on Tuesday night.

The accused persons chased the girl while she was returning from the fair. They picked up the girl and raped her in a lonely place in that night. She was attacked by the persons, but anyhow the girl managed to escape from the place and reported to the Kutra police about the incident.

The police started investigating into the matter and arrested the accused based on the allegation made by the girl, said Rajgangpur SDPO Sushil Panigrahy.        

  

Attempt to rape in city: One arrested, two absconding

BHUBANESWAR: One out of three was arrested on Tuesday for molesting a minor girl in a moving auto rickshaw in the city before being thrown out of the vehicle near Delta square in the city on late Sunday night. The other two were absconding and investigation is going on to nab the duo, police sources said.

The arrested person was identified as Suresh Mallick of Kundura village under Gop police station in Puri district. He was driving a hiring auto and living in a slum in the city for last few years.

The Commissionerate Police took the girl to various auto stands of the city for identification of the culprit and finally she recognised the auto driver who drove her out for Mastercanteen. The Khandagiri police arrested the driver and forwarded to the court. Meanwhile, the police requested the court to allow them to take the culprit in police remand for further interrogation.

The victim is now undergoing treatment at a private hospital with multiple injuries with fracture in her left leg. The incident happened within a week of the alleged gangrape of a 19-year-old dancer on Wednesday. The police have arrested four persons in connection with the gang rape case. The police went to Kolkata to nab the fifth accused hiding somewhere in Kolkata.

It may be noted that the minor girl who belongs to Patakura area of Kendrapada was molested by two persons boarded in the auto rickshaw which was coming from Barmunda to Mastercanteen. When the girl raised alarm, they suddenly pushed her out of the vehicle near Delta square and vanished from the spot.   

Keeping eye on the increasing crime in city, the Commissionerate Police have decided to introduce beat patrolling system from January. Under the new system, the city would be divided into 100 beat houses. Each would have two police personnel with a motorcycle, the police sources said.

Irate villagers torch forest office in Nuapada

NUAPADA: Following the death of a fellow villager who was allegedly attacked by the forest officials for cutting a tree from a nearby jungle, the Kuchaguda villagers of Sinapalli area in Nuapada district torched the Sinapalli forest office on Tuesday.

The deceased was identified as Kishore Nayak of Kuchaguda village. Kishore and his brother Parameswar while returning from the jungle with a log were chased by the forest officials on the way to home. The duo lost their balance fearing the forest official and fell into the ground. Kishore died on the spot, while his brother escaped.

According to Parameswar, the forest officials brutally attacked Kishore as a result he lost his life. Protesting the act of the forest officials, the angry villagers torched the forest office and a log godown at Saradgapur near Sinapalli.        

The Khadial police reached the spot and controlled the situation. “We have lodged a case based on the FIR of deceased’s brother and another case was lodged based on forest officials,” said Khadiala SDPO Santanu Kumar Das.

   

Elephants trample three in Ganjam, one critical

--Villagers demand compensation to injureds’ family

BRAHMAPUR: In an unfortunate incident, a marauding elephant of a herd trampled three persons on the wee hours of Monday when they were fast asleep in their hut near Raghunathpur village of Rambha forest area under Khallikote forest range in Ganjam district. One among the three was critically injured and admitted in the MKCG Medical College and Hospital here.

They were identified as Gaura Pradhan (62), Biswambar Pallai (56) and Rohit Palai (22) of Podagada village under Rambha police station in the district. On the day of the incident, a herd of five elephants came to the paddy harvesting yard in search of eating the paddy stocks.

When the wild jumbos entered to the yard, the three were taking rest in their hut near the harvesting yard. During their entry to the yard, the pachyderms crushed the three. Two of them escaped with a little injury, while the elderly man Pradhan trapped into the trouble. A tusker crushed Pradhan’s leg while passing the hut.

They were rushed to the MKCG Medical College Hospital here and admitted in the new surgery ward of the hospital. “The condition is critical, but the patient is out of danger. Operation is needed to set his crushed leg,” said orthopedic surgeon Dr Bijay Sarangi of the hospital.

Meanwhile, the villagers of Podagada, Raghunathpur and nearby areas were all prepared to block the National Highway demanding compensation to the families of the injured, necessary treatment and driving away the wild animals from the human habitat. Local MLA Adikanda Sethy rushed to the village and assured that they would take appropriate steps to write the district administration to declare compensation for the injured persons’ family. Brahmapur DFO SS Mishra visited the injured persons in the hospital and assured that the injured persons would get free treatment.

It may be noted that the wild elephants are on the rampage in the Palur area during last two months. Hundreds of acres standing crops were damaged due to the increasing jumbo movement in these areas of the Ganjam block.  

Beach festival at Gopalpur-on-sea begins

RONALISA PARIDA

BRAHMAPUR: The famous Gopalpur Beach Festival at Gopalpur-on-Sea, 24 km from here, has begun on Monday. The five-day long cultural extravaganza was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

“In order to develop the tourism and infrastructure of the State, the kind of festivals are welcomed. As Ganjam has a glorious history of various folk arts and literature and the land has given great poets like Kavi Samrat Upendra Bhanja and Kavi Surya Baldev Ratha to the State, the beach festival will promote its culture throughout the world,” said Patnaik in his inaugurating speech.

Giving a lucid idea of developing the Gopalpur sea beach, he said that plans would be worked out under the Integrated Coastal Zone Development and new economic projects would be implemented soon with the expenditure of Rs 4 crore for the wellbeing of the fishermen communities living in the area.

“People involved in saving the Olive Ridleys at the time of breeding, alternative livelihoods will be provided to them, Patnaik said, adding, “As many as 200 Self Help Groups will be appointed for the purpose.”

In order to stop the erosion of the sea, Patnaik stated, plans are made and scientific groups are assigned to study the situation. The report of the study would be submitted within April 2013, he mentioned.

The Cultural extravaganza began with the Odishi performance of Dona Ganguly. The cultural part including Jodi Sankha, Ranapa Dance, Ghanta Murdanga, Kathak Fusion Dance and animal mask dance were performed by the artists. The Chhau Dance of Mayurbhanj was one of the attractions in the evening.

On the first day of the festival, 180 stalls were opened at the Pallisri Mela where Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society, District Industries Centre, District Supply and Marketing Society, Horticulture and Agriculture Department have opened number of stalls to show their products in the festival.

Among others, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Surya Narayan Patro, Rural Development and Cooperation Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh, Brahmapur MLA RCC Patnaik, Chatrapur MLA Adikanda Sethy, Gopalpur MLA Praddep Panigrahi and BJD party members were present at the opening session of the festival.

Air India flight ops from Kolkata to BBSR restored

BHUBANESWAR: The flight operation between Bhubaneswar and Kolkata which was temporarily withdrawn till March 30, 2013, has been restored in flight schedule with effect from January 1, 2013, said the Air India official sources.

According to the schedule, flight number AI-9779 would leave at 5.45 pm from Kolkata and arrive at 7.15 pm at the temple city daily. Similarly, AI-9780 would leave Bhubaneswar at 7.35 pm and arrive at 9.05 pm in Kolakata daily.

BJP State prez name to be declared soon

--Jual Oram completes 3-yr in office

BHUBANESWAR: Top State leaders of BJP are waiting for the final decision of the Central leaders on the next State chief of the party as the present president Jual Oram completed three year in his office on Sunday. Seven top leaders of the State have gone Delhi to meet BJP national chief Nitin Gadkari, according to sources, the name of the State chief would be declared soon.

The national leaders are giving importance on the State chief for the next term which would cover the most important 2014 general election, said the sources, adding, the State chief should be equipped with good leadership qualities who can lead the team forward during the general election.

In order to discuss the matter, BJP national general secretary Narendra Singh Tomar and party Odisha-in-charge Santosh Gangwar had visited the State on December 13. They have taken opinions from the executive body members in the central, State and district-level committees regarding the election of an appropriate candidate.

The Central Observers have submitted the report before the national chief of the party. Gadkari would discuss with the State leaders about the next State chief of the party on Monday. After the discussion, the name would be finalized, said the party sources.

“We would give the responsibility to an appropriate candidate of the party keeping eye on eligibility criteria of the leader. We have very good people in the State BJP to take the responsibility,” said national general secretary Dharmendra Pradhan.

“The party was busy with Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly election for which reason the selection was delayed. The party’s State committee would get it’s next president before the new year,” said State BJP vice-president and spokesman Ashok Sahu. 

General Secretary Basant Panda and Nayan Mohanty are in the race for the president post, while Oram said the selection would be held in mutual understanding, otherwise there would be election.

Dandapani in problem over Rs 6 cr ransom money

BHUBANESWAR: Maoist interlocutor Dandapani Mohanty is now in problem over the alleged Rs 6 crore ransom issue for the safe release of MLA Jhina Hikaka and then Malkangiri collector R Vineel Krishna from the clutches of Maoists during abduction. After Mohanty’s statement on the ransom money, the CPI (Maoist) Malkangiri Divisional Committee warned him to disburse the said amount among the poor within 15 days otherwise he would face the music.

The committee clarified that they didn’t take any ransom from the State Government for the release of Hikaka and Krishna. If Dandapani Mohanty is claiming any such deal between Government and Maoists, the committee in a Press release said, he must disburse the amount. The release also said that Mohanty must withdraw his statement otherwise action would be taken against him in praja court.

On the other hand, Mohanty said that he has told media that he would present his statement before the inquiry panel if constituted to probe the matter. He, suspecting authenticity of the letter, refused to tell anything on the Committee’s letter before checking it clearly.

It may be noted that Mohanty in a Television interview revealed that the State Government had given Rs 4 crore to the Maoists for the release of Vineel Krishna in 2011 and Rs 2 crore during Hikaka’s abduction. Following the matter, the Congress party leaders demanded National Investigative Agency (NIA) probe into the relationship in between State Government and Maoists.

Rescued elephant calf from Athagarh sent to City zoo

BARANG: A one and a half month elephant calf Gauri, rescued from Khuntuni area under Athagarh forest range, was sent to the Nandankanan Zoological garden here on Sunday for her further treatment and care. The Zoo officials would send the calf to Kapilas elephant rescue centre for her appropriate treatment, said Assistant Director of the zoo Kamal Lochan Purohit.    

It may be noted that the calf was rescued by forest officials from Baniabandh reserve forest near Orda village of Khuntuni area on Wednesday night. After getting information from the villagers, Athagarh DFO along with his officials came to Orda village and rescued the calf. They left the calf in the jungle expecting that the mother elephant would take her out, but that didn’t happened.

The forest officials took the responsibilities of the calf and gave some food items for her survival. Later, Athagarh DFO on Sunday handed over the calf to Nandankanan authorities. Now six elephant calves are living in the zoo.     

Mobile film festival for young slum children begins

BHUBANESWAR: In an innovative approach to convey social messages on safe and healthy physical environment for young children living in slums, the volunteers of’ Dhool Ke Phool, a ‘Humara Bachpan’ campaign initiative, started the mobile film festival across city slums for the young children on Sunday.

“This programme is a small attempt to inculcate a degree of understanding within young minds about a safer living environment in the city slums,” said National campaign co-ordinator of Humara Bachpan Mihir Mohanty. More than 200 children from Janata Nagar, Shanti Nagar, Ekamra Vihar, Mahavir Nagar, Shakti Vihar, Nirankari Nagar, Aditya Vihar, Laxmi Vihar and areas of Salia Sahi in the city came forward to be part of the festival.

The festival started with the documentary on introduction to ‘Dhool Ke Phool’. Stories from ‘Panchatantra’ were showcased to suggest true values of friendship and take ownership of things that affect children on a daily basis. One short movie on the early childhood of former President APJ Abdul Kalam was also screened and kids from the nearby areas enjoyed the movie.

Post screening, children had discussion about their ideal living space. They also expressed that they would essentially want better drainage facilities, better roads, spaces for playing and safer homes in their slums. In an act to take up responsibility they have decided to form child clubs in their respective areas. “It is worth mentioning that this mobile film festival for the young children will proceed to every slum of the city to inspire the young minds” added Dhool Ke Phool Programme Head Bikram Keshari Nayak.

SJTA to ink MoU with BDA to protect, sale of Srimandir land

PURI: Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) would ink Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) for protecting and selling of Srimandir land in and around of the capital city. The decision was taken in a meeting of Srimandir Managing Committee held in the SJTA office here on Saturday.

The committee discussed about the finishing of repairing work of Kalash (situated at the top of the Srimandir) before March, 2013, amendment of old rules on darshan period, opening of temple on the midnight of English new year, socio-economic survey of Sebayats (temple priests), medical insurance for priests and modernisation of Koili Baikuntha for the Naba Kalebar Yatra.         

“We also discussed about the opening of Jagannath temple till midnight of the English new year for the devotees to see Lord Jagannath,” said Chief Administrator of Srimandir Dr Arbind Padhee.

Gajapati Maharaj Divya Singh Dev presided over the meeting, while District Collector Naba Kumar Nayak, SP Anup Sahu and ASI member attended the meeting.