Shah Commission’s hearing to be started from April 2

BHUBANESWAR: Justice MB Shah Commission probing the irregularities in mining in the State would begin second phase hearing of mining lessees at the Commission’s Ahmedabad office from Tuesday. Mining lessees and Government officials have left for Ahmedabad to attend the hearing.

During the last seating, the Commission’s hearing remained incomplete with the State Government not getting an opportunity to air its views. The fresh hearing would be held for interpretation of various issues while April 13 has been fixed for CSR activities to be taken up by the lessees. As many as 57 lessees would be heard within three days of the hearing, sources said.

Earlier, the Commission had re-examined the position of the mines in the State according to the guidelines sent by the commission to the State Government in this regard.  Following the complaints of the mine owners, the commission had allowed physical verification of certain leasehold areas during the hearing.

During the first hearing on March 16, the commission, which is hearing violation of Rule-37 of the Mineral Concession Rules (MCR)-1960, had urged the mining lessees and companies to prepare a blueprint on corporate social responsibility (CSR) for overall development of Sundargarh and Keonjhar districts in the State.  

NAC election: BJP holds campaign in Nuapada

BHUBANESWAR: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held campaign for the coming municipal election at Nuapada on Sunday. Newly elected BJP State president KV Singh Deo and legislature party leader Jaynarayan Mishra took the lead of the campaign in the town.   

Singh Deo began the seven-day visit from Hindol NAC of Dhenkanal district on Friday and staged a rally to attract the people towards his party. Out of the total seven days, the State chief would stay two days in Kandhamal covering Jaleshpeta and Chakapada ashram during the stay.

The visit of Singh Deo prior to the municipal election would be ended at Chakapada ashram, working place of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, in Kandhamal district.

 

Rahul meets 4 senior Cong leaders in New Delhi

BHUBANESWAR: All India Congress Committee (AICC) vice-president Rahul Gandhi met senior Congress leaders in New Delhi on Monday in order to strengthen the party base in the State. The Gandhi scion discussed about the organisational status of the party and suggested the leaders to speed up of the party activities in the State.

The Rahul’s meeting with four heavyweights of State Congress Union Minister Srikant Jena, MP Bhakta Chran Das, former PCC president Jaydeb Jena and senior Congress leader Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra, created rumour in the political level about change in leadership of Pradesh Congress Committee.

Rahul has called MP Pradeep Majhi to meet him on Tuesday to discus at length about the party situation. The continuous routine discussion with the senior Congress leaders is giving a sign of leadership change, said a political analyst.

But the State leaders deny the rumour and cleared that the meeting was totally based on strengthening of party in the State. “Rahul was discussing about the strengthening of the party and to speed up of the party work to prepare for the coming election. The meeting was purely based on party matter,” said Jena.     

Student Cong activists, police scuffle; cop injured

--PCC president condemns police attack on student activists

BHUBANESWAR: A violent scuffle between agitating student Congress activists and police personnel at the Congress Bhawan here on Monday left a cop seriously injured. Police took the student activists into preventive custody, while the condition of the injured cop was stable.

The clash was the reflection of the police excess on student Congress activists who were staging demonstration in front of the Chief Minister’s residence (Naveen Niwas) in the morning demanding resignation of Higher Education Minister Badri Narayan Patra and former Minister Raghunath Mohanty. In the meantime, a scribe of an Odia daily was injured in the police attack.

Protesting lathicharge by the police, the student activists blocked the road by burning tyre at Master Canteen and tried to ablaze the City bus in front of the Congress Bhawan after pelting stone on the bus. When the police tried to disperse the students, a violent clash occurred. The angry mob took a havildar major on duty, Nimai Charan Sahu, into the Congress Bhawan and assaulted him.

Later, the police personnel entered into the Congress Bhawan and rescued the havildar from the clutches of the student congress activists. “Nearly 10-12 activists beat me mercilessly. I was crying in pain but helpless,” Sahu said.

Meanwhile, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Niranjan Patnaik strongly condemned the police attack on Chhatra Congress president Satyajit Patnaik and a scribe Subhakant Das. Addressing the Press here, Patnaik said the State Government is trying to suppress the voice of common people by attacking on them. The law and order situation is deteriorating fast in the State, he added.

The PCC president demanded stringent action against the culprits who entered into the Congress Bhawan and damaged the property of the bhawan. “If the State Government does not take any action against the culprits, they would take the issue into the streets,” Patnaik said.   

Rumour of tiger roaming haunts zoo officials again

BARANG: After a month’s silence, the rumour of tiger roaming around Nandankanan zoo area haunted the zoo employees and forest officials again on Sunday. The rumour became strong when a visitor showed the photograph of the wandering animal behind the tiger enclosure.

The visitors and the driver of the Safari vehicle claimed that they saw the tiger when they were in the vehicle. They immediately informed the zoo authorities about the incident who asked the driver to bring the safari vehicle back. The visitors said the tiger was wondering behind the tiger enclosure, but the zoo officials including Nandankanan zoo deputy director Chittaranjan Mishra, Range officer and forester could not find the tiger.

According to the deputy director, they tried a lot to trace the tiger till Sunday evening. “We would try to find out the whereabouts of the tiger on Monday,” he added.

A visitor from Kolkata, Laxmikant Dixit, showed the photograph of the tiger which was not clear and confusing, but that has fueled the previous rumour about the presence of a tiger in the forest area.

Notably, the Forest Department on January 27 had confirmed the movement of a tigress and its cub after tracing pugmarks near Manei Sahi of Jhumuka area under Chandaka forest range in the outskirts of the city. Before the department officials on December 28 last year had confirmed that the tigress and its child were freely roaming around the Chandaka-Dampada sanctuary.

Dhinkia people not to allow demolition drive further

BHUBANESWAR: The villagers of trouble torn Dhinkia area in Jagatsinghpur district would not allow any further demolition in their area on the coming days, if the State Government begins land acquisition process for the Posco Company after the end of the Assembly session on April 6.

From Friday onwards, more than 200 women of Gobindpur village are continuing daily peaceful protest and shouting slogans opposing undemocratic moves of the Government and Posco in their village. The villagers are preparing for a mass protest apprehending a police crackdown after the end of the budget session in the Assembly.

Meanwhile, the villagers re-erected bamboo and wooden barricades at Gobindpur, Patana, Dhinkia and Trilochanpur villages under Jagatsinghpur’s Dhinkia gram panchayat to prevent officials and police from entering the proposed Posco plant site.

Women leader Manorama Khatua said that now they could go to any extent to ensure stopping of the project on their fertile land. She also said that the women would henceforth guard the entry gate to Dhinkia area with their male counterparts to ensure no more demolition of betel vines takes place. “Our people are hell bent on opposing any move of the authorities to enter Gobindpur,” said Khatua.

According to Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) spokesperson Prashant Paikaray, presence of policemen was a cause of tension for women and girls at Gobindpur village. The State Government has resorted to unethical tactics of jailing and lathicharging the protesters regularly, he added. “As women and children are at the forefront of the movement, regular lathicharge on women and children by paramilitary has become a norm,” Paikaray said.

Paikray continued, “Over last 2 months though the administration declared that land acquisition would not happen ‘by coercion’, this region has just become a site littered with paramilitary camps with more than 12 paramilitary platoons. The constant presence of paramilitary in the area right inside the villages is worrisome and unacceptable in a democratic polity.”

PPSS demanded immediate withdrawal of policemen from Gobindpur village. “We have also decided to launch hunger-strike from April 3, if the State Government does not withdraw the force,” the women members added.

Women Home Guards move SHRC against police excess

--Action to be taken against Home Guards

BHUBANESWAR: The women Home Guards on Saturday moved to the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) protesting police excess against them during demonstration in front of the State Assembly here on Friday. They alleged the police officers misbehaved them during the protest.

The women home guards complained against Bhubaneswar DCP Nitinjit Singh, Capital IIC Aseem Panda, Chandrasekharpur IIC Rabi Satpathy and Reserve Inspector Bibhuti Parida for directing the force to attack on them.

Meanwhile, the DCP informed that they are reviewing the CCTV footage and videos of the protest to know the violators of law. They would take disciplinary action against 50 persons arrested during the demonstration, he added.

On the other hand, Home Guard ADG Binaya Behera said that the Home Guards should not choose the violent way to press their demands. It is their right to demand to get better facility from the State, but they should follow the discipline, he added.         

‘Respect earth by observing Earth hour 2013’

BHUBANESWAR: Local Governance Network (LGNet), a social organisation based in the city, appealed the people of the State for the observance of the Earth Hour by asking households and business establishments to turn-off their non-essential lights and other technical appliances for one hour on March 23 from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm to raise awareness towards the need to take action on Climate Change.

Earth Hour is a global initiative of individuals, businesses, Governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 23, 2013 at 8:30 pm to show their support for environmentally sustainable action.

According to the organisation, the capital city and its dwellers are actively participating since 2009. Now in its seventh year, the annual lights out event has grown from a single-city initiative in 2007 to become the world’s largest display of environmental action, with citizens of 150 countries and territories across every continent coming together for Earth Hour 2013 indicating a growing global movement of positive change in environmental attitudes.

The organisation appealed to the people of the State to observe the Earth Hour 2013 to respect the planet and to take the responsibility of the earth.

Minority leaders meet Governor

BHUBANESWAR: The minority leaders of Odisha Minority Forum led by its president Dr Swarupananda Patra, Archbishop John Barwa along with senior and youth leaders of the minority community met Governor of Odisha SC Jamir at the Raj Bhawan here on Friday to press their issues regarding problems of minority community in the State.

The minority leaders requested the Governor to provide them a few patch of land in the city for the construction of their worshipping place. There is no enough church in the city for the congregation of the Christians for mass prayer and the existed churches are over crowded, they added.

The forum demanded three acres of land to build the churches and one and a half acres for burial ground as the population of the community is increasing in the city. “If Ravi Shankar and Mata Amrutanandamayee get vast land, why not they,” Patra told the media here.    

KKD stages demo for separate Kosal State

BHUBANESWAR: The members of Kosal Kranti Dal (KKD) on Friday staged demonstration in front of the State Assembly here demanding formation of separate Kosal Pradesh and to materialise the dreams of two and half crores Kosali people who aspire to see a new State under Article 2 and 3 of Indian Constitution.

More than a hundred members came in a procession started from Master Canteen to the Lower PMG and staged a meeting in front of the State Assembly here protesting the State Government’s delay in recognising their demands. KKD president Pramod Kumar Mishra, while addressing the members in the meeting, said the western part of the State has been facing many challenges including Government negligence from the day of the independence.

Mishra pointed out about the regional imbalances in the area and maladministration of different Governments of the State. “The people of the Kosalanchal has been facing untold misery in the hands of such bureaucrats and executing authorities who mostly hail from Eastern Odisha,” he said.

A delegation led by Mishra handed over a memorandum to the Chief Minister requesting fulfillment of their demands. The KKD members also met MLAs of Kosal area (consisting of 13 districts) and requested them to address their issues in the Assembly.

In the memorandum, the leaders said the mineral rich and naturally sound western Odisha people are neglected in almost all sectors including political, social, education and health. “Kosal Pradesh is our right and nobody can create obstacle on the way to get that right,” said Mishra, adding, “If the MLAs fail to address our issues, we would gherao them in their own Assembly constituency and would stage demonstration in front of the representatives of the Government.”     

‘National policy needed to protect deprived Hindu refugees’

--Infiltration increasing in border from B’desh side: RSS

BHUBANESWAR: “National policy for refugees and their rehabilitation should be formulated soon,” demanded Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangha (RSS) Pranta Sanghachalak for Odisha Bipin Bihari Nanda while briefing the media here on Thursday.

Nanda reiterated the demands of the Sangha passed during the All India Pratinidhi Sabha held at Jaipur in Rajasthan regarding protection of Hindus in the neighbouring muslim countries. Their demands include imposing of pressure on Pakistan and Bangladesh for protection of Hindus residing in the countries, provision of adequate compensation to the affected Hindus and imposing pressure on international organisations like UNHRC and UNHCR to save the honour and security of the minorities of the above countries.

He said the Hindus in Pakistan are deprived of their security, self respect and human rights. As per Nehru-Liaquat pact both the countries owe the responsibility to provide security to the minorities residing in their respective territory, while India has provided all the privileges to the minorities in it’s own land, it cannot escape from it’s responsibility by saying that the minority problem of the above two countries are their internal matter, he added.

Due to the atrocities on Hindus, their numbers have been declined in above two countries. According to the statistics, 28 per cent Hindus were living in Bangladesh during partition which has been decreased to 10 per cent now. Similarly, 11 per cent Hindus were living in Pakistan during partition and now it has been decreased to 2 per cent. On the other hand, the percentage of Muslims in India has been raised from 8 per cent to 14 per cent.

Nanda expressed grave concern over the beheading of two Indian soldiers by Pakistan army with some jehadi group and condemned the heinous act. He demanded a firm military policy to restore confidence among the people about the security in the border area.

He also strongly opposed the infiltration of Bangladeshis who are continuously entering into Indian Territory. The infiltrators are causing riots and communal violence in the country, he said citing examples of Kokrajhar incident in Assam. “The Government should check the increasing infiltration in the border for the security of the nation,” Nanda ended.

Police’s false case against Sushree Das: SO leaders move SHRC

BHUBANESWAR: Leaders of the Samruddha Odisha (SO) party led by its president Jatish Mohanty on Wednesday moved to the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) in connection with the forcible arrest of Sushree Das, a Zilla Parishad member, by the police in an undemocratic way. A five-member team would visit Talcher on Friday to take stock of the health condition of Das, said party general secretary Prabir Mohanty.

According to general secretary Mohanty, police forcibly arrested the ZP member on late Tuesday night and sent to jail when she was staging dharna in front of the State Assembly protesting company’s monopoly attitude at Tentulei in Talcher area. At 2.30 am on Tuesday, a few plain-clothed police, who had come in two private cars, took her from the dharna place by convincing her in the name of the discussion. The police took her to Talcher immediately and sent her to jail by lodging false cases under section 143, 149, 186, 194, 341 and 501 of IPC against her, he added.

SO senior vice president Gora Chand Barik warned the concerned officials, who had taken her to Talcher, would be responsible for her health condition.

Notably, Das was arrested when she had sat in fast in front the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s residence protesting the NSL Company for not providing compensation to the displaced, illegal land acquisitions and forcibly construction of boundary wall on the agricultural field. When she could not get opportunity to sit in dharna in front of the Naveen Niwas, she continued her dharna at the Lower PMG.

   

17k Home Guards to gherao Assembly on Mar 22

BHUBANESWAR: Around 17,000 members of the Nikhila Utkal Gruharakhi Mahasangha (NUGM) have threatened to gherao the State Assembly on Friday over their fulfillment of their six-point charter of demands. The association went on strike from Wednesday and cautioned the Government that they would follow civil disobedience path during the agitation at the Lower PMG here on Friday.

The home guards, working across the State, demanded that the authority should stop indiscriminate retrenchment of home guards. The Government should formulate new rules for them, said working president of NUGM Sanjay Kumar Behera.

The six-point charter of demands of the Mahasangh include daily allowance of Rs 200 to Rs 500, set up of welfare fund, granting of ESI and EPF, Government recognition for the Mahasangha and discrimination in pay of salary to company commander, platoon commander and home guards.

“The Mahasangha has been demanding before the State Government to fulfill their demands, but their voice is not being heard properly. This time we would not listen anyone till their demands are fulfilled,” said Behera.  

BMC to open 80 Jalchatras in city

BHUBANESWAR: Many poor people from across the State are coming to the capital city for various purposes and they could not purchase water bottles from the shop to satiate their thirst. The free water facility at different places in the city helps them saving money as well as from sunstroke. But this year, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has not started the free water facilities (Jalchatras) though the mercury level of the city crossed 39.2 degree Celsius.  

The city-dwellers also demanded early opening of Jalchatras in the city. “BMC should open jalchatras immediately without making any delay. The heat is increasing day by day, but no free water facility is provided in the city now,” said a passerby Gunagrahi Barik who hails from Pipili in search of work in the city.

“To beat the scorching heat of summer, people need sufficient water to drink which would maintain water balance in the body. The water deficit problem and the heat may cause sun stroke,” said a doctor.

While BMC Mayor Anant Narayan Jena said that they would open the jalchatras very shortly. “Like every year, we are planning to open 80 to 100 Jalchatras in the city from April 1,” said Mayor Jena on Wednesday. He continued, “The lassi and fruit juice vendors were told to open jalchatras in front of their shop according to their agreement with them.”

  

Discovered skeleton’s sample sent to Hyderabad for DNA test

BHUBANESWAR: Sample of the skeleton discovered from Baanga village near Harirajpur in Puri district, 15 km from here, has been sent to the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad for DNA test to know further information about the skeleton, said Paleopathologist and retired head of the Department of Anthropology, University of Pune, Prof S R Walimbe while addressing the Press at Utkal University campus here on Sunday.

The skeleton of an adult male, which was excavated during the month of February this year, belongs to Chalcolithic age dating approximately 2000 to 1500 BC (3,500 years old), revealed the expert team including Prof Kishore K Basa of Anthropology department in Utkal University, Dr Veena Mushrif Tripathy from Anthropology department of Deccan College of Pune and Prof Walimbe.

Experts said the age of the male (skeleton) was in between 35 and 40, height 5 ft 7 inch and was a healthy person. His hand got fractured when he was 25 and it was later fixed in a natural way, the team added.

They didn’t find the foot as it was already cut during the time of death, the team felt and added that it was a normal death of the person as the normal age was 40 then. The team would do x-ray on the skeleton to know the ancient treatment of bone fracture. They would do the test of carbon dating to know the exact age of the skeleton, informed the team.

“The research so far is at a preliminary stage. After proper anthropological investigation on the skeleton, we would give the details,” asserted Prof Basa. He continued, “We are sending the samples for carbon dating and the precise data would come after getting the result of the test.”   Presently, the expert team is conducting anthropological investigation on the adult male human skeleton, said sources.

Aam Aadmi Party’s State office bearers name declared

BHUBANESWAR: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday announced the office bearers of its newly launched State unit. In the presence of national executive body member Prof Ajit Jha, the party declared its 10-membered executive committee to look after the affairs of the State unit.

Nishikant Mohapatra, an active member of Arvind Kejriwal-led India Against Corruption (IAC), unanimously elected as convener of the State unit, while Bismay Mohapatra became the secretary and Snigdha Rani Mohanty became the treasurer of the unit.

The office bearers would start their work very soon by visiting different districts for strengthening of the party. “The party would hold a meeting next week where we make the schedule of the visit to reach the common people with very vital issues,” said convener Mohapatra.          

‘50,000 farmers to block roads in capital on March 25’

--Price, prestige, pension for farmers--

BHUBANESWAR: Protesting the State Government’s anti-farmer policy, over 50,000 farmers from more than 20 districts of the State would block roads from either sides of the capital city by March-end, said the members of the Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) on Sunday.

NNKS president Akshaya Kumar told reporters that the State Government has failed to address the issues of the poor farmers. “The farmers need remunerative prices and bonus for their paddy and other crops and prestige to live with dignity. But what has the Government done for them within these years,” he questioned and said the Government is only trying to suppress the farmer’s voice.

The organisation would demand Rs 5,000 per quintal of paddy, Rs 300 as bonus on each qunital of paddy, besides pension of Rs 5,000 for each farmer. Kumar said various farmers’ organisations have been discussing with the Government to solve the farmer’s problems, but the Government doesn’t take any interest which compelled the farmers to stage protest in front of the Chief Minister’s residence. Kumar said that the police action and conspiracy could not stop the spirit of the peasants’ movement.

NNKS joint coordinator Seshadev Nanda said the peasants’ movement would be intensified at the grassroots level with the help of various farmers’ organisations across the State. The NNKS has already organised meetings at the district level during the last three months to deliver the message of the movement against the Government’s apathy towards the farmers, he added.

Notably, members of the NNKS had staged demonstration in front of the Naveen Niwas (the Chief Minister's residence) and tried to gherao it violating prohibitory orders under section 144 Cr PC. As many as 58 persons were arrested in connection with the case.

Aam Aadmi Party’s State unit launched

BHUBANESWAR: India Against Corruption chief campaigner Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) officially launched its Odisha unit after holding a State-level public meeting at the Lower PMG here on Saturday. It was the party’s first public meeting in the State.

Hundreds of volunteers and supporters of the party participated in the meeting. AAP national executive members including Prof Ajit Jha, an experienced political activist, addressed the mass explaining the vision and mission of the party.

Prof Jha also released the Odia translation of Arvind Kejriwal’s much-discussed book Swaraj, which the party has adopted as one of its key issues along with its demand for a strong Lokpal, right to reject (election candidates) and right to recall (elected representatives) as well as making justice a fundamental right.

AAP State coordinator Nishikant Mohapatra said the party has received an excellent response from people around the State. “So far, we have strengthened our position in 25 districts out of which district committees have been formed in 17,” Mohapatra said, adding, “We will form committees in all districts and the State committee will be finalised within two days.”

The Aam Aadmi Party was formed on November 26 last year in the presence of over 30,000 people at Parliament Street in New Delhi with the main objective to ensure right politics for people and to break the culture of money and muscle power in politics.

The party has five levels, national, State, district, block and primary. The party has some unique characteristics such as no two persons from same family to be given party positions or tickets, all donations and expenses to be published online and provision of internal lokpals for grievance redressal.

CPM demands CB probe into D’nal rape, murder case

BHUBANESWAR: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Friday demanded Crime Branch inquiry into the sexual assault and killing of 17-year-old dalit girl of Mathatentulia village under Gondia police limits in Dhenkanal district on Tuesday night. The party condemned the horrid act as heartrending and heinous.

A fact finding team, which had visited the spot, stated that the incident was engineered by a group of people to take revenge on the victim’s family. The team said the family has lost everything in the fire on March 12, but they were not provided assistance till Thursday evening. No Government officials or peoples representatives visited the family to help them out, they added.

The team members said the family is living in the Government land as the family along with other dalit and tribal people are not provided land pattas. The family is very poor, but it doesn’t have BPL card, ration card or Indira Awas; so the Government should provide them all the facilities, they demanded.

The CPI (M) State Secretariat member Santosh Das demanded exemplary punishment to the accused through trial in a Fast Track court and Rs 10 lakh as compensation to the family of the deceased.

Among others, State secretariat member Suresh Panigrahy, State Committee member Pushpa Das, SFI State secretary Sarat Das, Jitin Mohanty and Padmabhushan Sahu went with the delegation.

Rahul’s focus to woo tribal voters in State

--Focus 2014 poll--

BHUBANESWAR: All India Congress Committee (AICC) vice-president Rahul Gandhi while discussing with the MPs of Odisha, Bihar and Jharkhand at the Parliamentary party office in New Delhi on Thursday advised the latter to concentrate on the tribal issues to woo the voters. During his one and a half hour brainstorming session with the MPs, the Gandhi scion emphasised on the tribal voters to revive their faith on the party.

Rajya Sabha member Ram Chandra Khuntia said the meeting was a routine work of the party regarding the strengthening of party for the coming 2014 general election. Rahul stressed on proper delivery of Government facilities and programmes for the welfare of the tribals, he added.

Sundergarh Congress MP Hemananda Biswal said that their vice president talked about the core issues of the tribals related to much-discussed land disputes. A two-member committee from each State would submit a ground report on the tribal issue to Rahul and then he would prepare the agenda, Biswal added.

Rahul called upon the MPs to reach out to the tribals leaders and to sensitise them about various programmes, schemes and plans for the welfare of the community is needed in this point time before the coming election. He also set his goal for the organisational development in the party.

Recently, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh and Union Tribal Affairs Minister V Kishore Chandra Deo had visited Sunabeda, Kalahandi and Niyamgiri like tribal areas to announce their plans and programmes for the development of the area which shows the ‘focus tribal’ policy of the Congress before the upcoming general election.

D’nal dalit rape, murder: Main accused arrested

--Cong, SP demand exemplary action against culprits

DHENKANAL/BHUBANESWAR: Police arrested the principal accused in connection with the sexual assault and killing of 17-year-old dalit girl of Mathatentulia village under Gondia police limits in Dhenkanal district on Tuesday. Police have started man hunt to nab the other accused who are absconding.

The accused was identified as Shibaji Nayak of Mathatentulia and his other four friends sexually assaulted and then burnt her alive in the house in the absence of her parents late on Tuesday night. The criminals after sexually assaulting the minor girl had locked the door from outside and set her on fire.

The Dhenkanal police are investigating into the matter after lodging a rape and murder case. “We are searching the other accused. Very shortly we would arrest the aide of mastermind Nayak who have gone underground,” said Dhenkanal SP Manoranjan Mohanty.

Meanwhile, the heinous act has created a hue and cry in the political sphere. The main opposition party Congress raised voice against the incident. Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik condemned the horrid act as a barbaric and mindless which would put entire humanity in shame. “I request the State Government to take immediate steps to arrest the culprits and try them through a special fast track court,” said patnaik.

He said the security and safety of women has been a serious concern and they have raised the issue with the incumbent Government time and again. “We should collectively work towards creating a system which guarantees security to our sisters and mothers and ensure their dignity is protected,” he added.

Similarly, a delegation led by Samajwadi Party State Committee president Rabi Behera handed over a memorandum to the Governor demanding termination of the local police officer for negligence of duty and immediate arrest of all the accused persons involved in the case. The party also demanded Rs 10 lakh as compensation to the family of the deceased and to give exemplary punishment to the accused through trial in a Fast Track court within 90 days.

NCP supporters gherao speaker’s residence

--NCP MLAs’ merger issue--

BHUBANESWAR: The supporters and workers of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) gheraoed the residence of Assembly speaker Pradip Kumar Amat here on Thursday demanding immediate action on NCP MLAs’ merger with BJD issue.

The NCP supporters staged demonstration in front of the speaker’s residence flaunting placards bearing slogans demanding the speaker to take a fair and unbiased decision regarding the matter. They also demanded that the speaker should show respect to the Supreme Court and High Court’s order.

During agitation, the police took the activists into preventive custody while they were trying to enter to the residence.

According to NCP leader Srikant Samantray, we have filed contempt of court case against the speaker. “Being a speaker, working for the party purpose is unfortunate,” said Samantaray, adding, “Amat should resign from his post on the moral ground.”  

The Supreme Court on Wednesday had set aside the review petition of Amat regarding the controversial merger of the four NCP MLAs.

No tie with BJD, OJM, reiterates KV

--Singh Deo assumes charge of BJP State chief

BHUBANESWAR: “State BJP will not seek the support of the rulling BJD or the Odisha Jan Morcha on the coming 2014 general election,” reiterated newly elected BJP State president Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo while addressing the party workers here after formally taking the charge of the State BJP.

In his speech at the felicitation ceremony, Singh Deo said the BJP would be the alterative to the BJD and Congress party in the State. They would contest the coming elections on their own strength, he added.

The party president came down heavily on BJD Government by citing the instances of various corruptions and scams continuing in the State. He alleged that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is involved in the disputed Sainik deal. “Patnaik would also face the same condition what Jharkhand’s former Chief Minsiter Madhu Koda had faced,” he said, adding, “Patnaik would sit at the adjacent cell of Koda in the jail in future.”

Singh Deo further said his party is on a sincere mission for development of the people of the State unlike the Congress and the BJD. “We believe in a sustained development, not at the cost of poor farmers’ land,” said Singh Deo, adding, “We will usher in a qualitative change in the scenario of the State politics.”

The party leaders including national general secretary Dharmendra Pradhan, national executive body member Bijay Mohapatra, senior leader Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, former State presidents Suresh Pujari, Bimbadhar Kuanra, Manmohan Samal, Jual Oram and other senior leaders lashed out at the State Government and refuted the allegation of any conflict and groupism inside the party.

Around three thousands of party workers across the State attended the felicitation ceremony. At first the workers welcomed Singh Deo at the airport and took out with a bike procession up to party office. Leaders of the party and presidents of the district committees felicitated the newly elected State chief with mammoth garlands.

    

      

Rahul to meet State Cong MPs in Delhi

BHUBANESWAR: Newly elected Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi would meet State Congress MPs at the Parliament party office in New Delhi on Thursday to discuss about the present status of the party in the State. After February 18 Odisha visit of the vice-president, it would be the second formal meeting with the Congress leaders, party sources said.

Everybody’s eye on the meeting of Rahul with MPs as what would be the outcome of the discussion and what they would discuss in the meeting. The State Congress leaders are also waiting for the result of the meeting.

“I’m really very happy that Rahul Gandhi is discussing with everyone from the grassroots level instead of holding discussions with a few selected leaders. It is a welcoming step of our national vice-president,” said Rajya Sabha member Ramchandra Khuntia.

MP Pradeep Majhi said that their leader would discuss about the strengthening of the party from the Panchayat level to State level, while Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik said that it is a routine meet with their central leader.   

After being elevated as the AICC’s second in command, the Gandhi scion had visited Odisha for two days on February 18 and 19 to rejuvenate the party in the State ahead of the next general election by meeting the grass root level workers and block level leaders to know their problems. As a part of his promise to give a new dimension for the party within three months, he had started the brainstorming sessions with the leaders regarding advantages and drawbacks of the party.

After ten days of Rahul’s visit, AICC general secretary Madhusudan Mistry had visited here to discuss with the presidents of the districts regarding the listing of aspirants of MPs. Earlier, two central observers had taken opinions from the leaders of the total 21 organisational districts in the State.   

 

Aam Aadmi Party to launch State unit on Mar 17

BHUBANESWAR: India Against Corruption chief campaigner Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) would officially launch its Odisha unit on March 17 a day after holding a State level public meeting at the Lower PMG here. It would be the first public meeting in the State after formation of the party, party sources said.

Party’s national executive members including Prof Ajit Jha would attend the State level convention on March 16, said AAP State coordinator Nishikant Mohapatra. “We are expecting around 3000 volunteers and supporters to attend the convention. Party has received an excellent response from people across the State,” said Mohapatra at a Press meet.

He said that they have already formed committees in 17 districts in the State and they have strengthened their position in 25 districts. “Our party’s main agenda include Janlokpal, Right to Recall, Right to Reject, Right to Justice and Swaraj,” said Mohapatra, adding, “We are also working on various local issues across the State.”

Recently, the party has organised a State level preparatory meeting where 19 districts have participated and shared their progress and development done in respective areas.

       

        

Man hunt for Maoist Sabyasachi intensified

-- Panda calls for Odisha bandh to protest Pradip’s killing

BHUBANESWAR: Following the death of Pradip Majhi, military in-charge and close aide of Odisha Maovadi Party chief Sabyasachi Panda, the police have started man hunt to nab Panda. They have intensified combing operations in the Ganjam-Gajapati border forests where Panda is suspected to be hiding, the police sources said.

The police believe that Panda might have hidden in the 2 km long Gudi Sahi jungle nearer to the Karanjadua forests of Gajapati district’s Mohana police limits where the police killed his aide on Monday.   

                                               

Panda on Tuesday released an audiotape in which he condemned the Odisha Police for killing Majhi in fake encounter. He also called for Odisha bandh on March 14 in protest of the killing of his aide in police encounter.

The Maoist leader once again rejected the call for surrender from police DG Prakash Mishra who had appealed to Panda to surrender and join the mainstream of society. “If he does not give up arms, he knows what consequence awaits him,” Mishra had said.

Panda’s wife Subhashree said that the Government is unnecessarily targeting such Maoists who are not indulged in violent activities.

Shah Comm to re-examine mines on Mar 16

BHUBANESWAR: The Justice MB Shah commission, which is probing illegal mining across the country, would re-examine the mines in the State by March 16. The commission has sent a guideline to the State Government in this regard.

From the beginning of the Commission’s hearing recently, the lessees were raising question on the authenticity of differential geographical positioning systems (DGPS) used for demarcation of mines lease boundaries in the State. Following the complaint of the mine owners, the Commission had allowed physical verification of certain leasehold areas during the hearing.

According to the decision of the commission, a seven-member team would go to Keonjhar and Sundergarh district to re-examine the actual position of the mines. They would be assisted by district level members.

Meanwhile, the Commission has sent guidelines to the State Government regarding the re-examining of mines which stated that the mining outside of the lease area would be declared as encroachment area. It also stated that the team would examine the lease area whether it is forest or non-forest area and the lessees have followed the rules or not that would be examined.     

Kalinga Hospital gets Best Multyspeciality Hospital award

BHUBANESWAR: Kalinga Hospital Limited has been awarded as the Best Multyspeciality Hospital in the entire East zone in Non Metro category for the year of 2012. This prestigious ‘ICICI Lombard Health Insurance and CNBC TV 18 India Healthcare Award’ was given by Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia and WHO Representative to India at New Delhi on Sunday.

Briefing the Press persons here, Managing Director of the hospital Dr Mala Chattopadhyay said that it is an achievement by itself and stressed on the involvement and efforts of the consultants and staff which made such accomplishment possible. She reiterated the slogan of ‘seva dil se’ and promised to continue providing compassionate care towards the greater masses of the society at the most affordable cost.

Chief Manager Administration Dr R K Padhi and Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Siddharth Mishra, who were present over the Press meet, said the process of service delivery is being closely monitored and being upgraded to suit the scope of ‘tertiary corporate health care service delivery’. “We are also working on the upgradation of the ambience of the hospital both tangible and intangible aspects for the better customer service and delight,” said Dr Mishra.

Among others, HR consultant Namita Priya, Corporate Relations and Marketing Manager Sayahna Saha and administrative officers were present.

Farmer suicide becomes regular phenomenon in State: Cong

BHUBANESWAR: Criticising the State Government for not taking appropriate steps to stop farmer suicide in the home district of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) on Saturday said in a memorandum to the Governor that the farmer suicide has become a regular phenomenon during BJD rule since 2000 in the State.

The PCC members said that due to continued neglect of agriculture, the cultivators suffer unspeakable economic hardship and deprivation. One such tragic incident has .taken place at Erendra village of Girisola GP under Chikiti Block in Ganjam district on last February 23 this year. On February 21, Trinath Pradhan (50) belonging to scheduled caste was forced to take poison to end his life due to mounting mental agonies on account of debt burden. Apart from Rs 10,000 which he had borrowed from local Co-operative, there was an outstanding private loan of Rs 50,000 against him, they added.

The members demanded payment of an immediate compensation of Rs 5 Lakh to his widowed wife, engagement of his migrant son Jitendra Pradhan to support family income, sanction of old age pension for his 75-year-old mother Sadhu Pradhan and disabled pension for his dependent sister Phula Pradhan who is dumb. They also demanded payment of additional Rs 300 per quintal for paddy to farmers, reassessment of crop loss estimate to cover many left out genuine farmers in the district under crop insurance scheme, Urgent initiatives for interlinking of the river Rushikulya with the Bansadhara to ensure irrigation facilities in deficient Ganjam district.

The PCC delegation under the chairmanship of former Minister Ganeswar Behera, former speaker Chintamani Dyan Samantaray, met the family on March 6 to take stock of the situation and condole the bereaved family. The Block Congress Committee of Chikiti staged demonstration and submitted a memorandum to the Governor through the Tahasildar, Chikiti on the same day.

Fact finding team on Posco demands judicial inquiry

--Bomb blast incident at Posco site--

BHUBANESWAR: The Civil Liberty Fact Finding Team (CLFFT), a twelve-member group, who made a visit to the proposed Posco area in Jagatsinghpur district to assess the situation in the wake of escalated violence since the land acquisition process resumed in the area on February 4, has demanded a high-level judicial inquiry into the bomb blast incident.

A national-level fact-finding team consisting of civil liberties, democratic organisations and individuals visited Govindapur and Dhinkia villages of the district on Saturday. After visiting the site, the team briefed the Media persons here on Sunday about the facts they got during their visit. They stated that the blast was not occurred due to bomb making by the villagers, but that was thrown by some groups.

They alleged that the police neither reached the area nor sent any help for taking Laxman Parmanik immediately to the hospital, despite Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samity (PPSS) informing the police immediately after the incident. The police arrived only on the morning of March 3 at the scene of the incident and took charge of the dead bodies, they added.

The team members said the families of the two deceased shared that the police arrived on the midnight of March 3 and asked them to sign a written statement stating that the victims died in the process of making the bomb which they refused to do. When Kusumbati Sahu, sister-in-law of the deceased Narahari Sahu went to register an FIR at the Abhoychandranpur police station on March 3 evening, the police refused to accept the FIR, while the police accepted the FIR was lodged by Ranjan Bardhan on March 4 against the three deceased, the injured Parmanik, Abhay Sahu, Surendra Das and five others of the PPSS, they said.   

Besides the high level judicial enquiry into the bomb blast incident, the team members also demanded immediate withdrawal of the police camp from Gobindpur village as it is contributing to escalating tensions in the area, cessation of the land acquisition process forthwith in the Dhinkia panchayat area including Gobindpur village and compensation on humanitarian grounds to the families of the deceased who were killed in the bomb blast and proper medical help for the injured person.

The members like scientist Meher Engineer, Mainstream Weekly Editor Sumit Chakravartty, Delhi University Retired Professor Dr Manoranjan Mohanty, Pramodini Pradhan and Saroj Mohanty from PUCL and Partho Roy from Sanhati were present at the Press briefing.