Tusker found dead inside Chandaka forests

BHUBANESWAR: A 65-year-old tusker found dead under the Chandaka forest range at Dashpur village near Andharua on the outskirts of the capital city on Tuesday. The body of the pachyderm was lying in an agricultural field around 2 km from the village.  

According to the wildlife officer Fanindra Bhushan Nanda, they generally do tracking elephants. On the day of the incident, they tracked 13 elephants entered to the forest, but could not found one tusker, he said. After sometime they found the body of the tusker near Dashpur village, Nanda added.  

According to the forest department sources, the tusker was roaming around the forest alone. The forest officials said that the tusks of the elephant, one measuring 53 inches and another 49 inches, were intact.

The villagers of Dashpur said the elephants died due to fighting with other elephants in the reserved forest as the carcass of the elephant had several injury marks on its body. The exact cause of the death of the elephant could be ascertained after post-mortem, forest officials said.

‘Women panchayat leaders are catalysts’

BHUBANESWAR: “Women elective representatives of panchayat-level are the change agents of development in the country. Proper training to the women representatives will yield good results,” opined most of the Media persons in an interface of Media with elected women representatives (EWRs) of panchayat-level organised by The Hunger Project (THP), a global organisation working to build capacities of EWRs, here on Monday.

Over 20 trained EWRs from Angul, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Nuapada, Kalahandi and Khurda district and as many representatives from leading print and electronic media participated in this interface, and shared mutual experiences and views on ‘Highlighting Women Leadership in Panchayati Raj Institutions’.

Participating in the interface, ward member of Randiba Panchayat of Gajapati district Kundan Raita spoke about her fight against the powerful groups to restore peace in her area and she succeeded in her attempt to stop illegal liquor vending in her area with the help of police and district administration, which has given a new ray of hope for the rural tribal people of her area to fight against illegal works.

Similarly, Cheligada Sarpanch Mamata Berdalei, a sarpanch in Balianta block near the city Soudamini Das, Sunabeda sarpanch Malati Majhi, a ward member of Daruthenga panchayat in Khurda district Khulana Behera and other EWRs spoke in the interface.

Program officer of THP Sukanta Mohapatra expressed concern over two-child norm and the recent added qualifier of caste certificate during nomination in the PRI poll, which created obstacles for women candidates particularly. He appealed to the Media for positive coverage of successful women leaders in panchayat –level.

Program associate of THP Litali Das said the people are slowly awaking to the positive outcomes of women in governance. “Societal attitude against women leaders is changing but there is need for a continuous sharing on women leaders' achievements, so that the process can be speeded up,” she added.

3 train looters arrested from city rail station

BHUBANESWAR: The GRP police officials arrested three inter-state looters and dacoits from a running train at the city railway station here on Sunday. The police have seized net cash, mobiles, eight ATM cards and sharp weapons from the possession of the looters. But the mastermind Anant and other two persons were absconding, sources said.

The persons were cheating the train passengers in the running train pretending as textile vendors are from Bhagalpur area of Bihar, sources said. According to a culprit, they have been doing such activities during last five months.

“These guys know how to loot the passengers in which way and at what time. In the guise of selling textile items, they were looting the passengers. We will contact the local police station of Bihar to trace out the other culprits involved in the activities,” said Bhubaneswar GRP IIC Smrutiranjan Kar.              

Tollgate employee run over by a truck

BHUBANESWAR: A tollgate employee was killed as goods truck ran over him at Khurda-Gangapada tollgate on the outskirts of the city in the wee hours of Sunday. He was identified as Narayan Baral, a retired army jawan, from Khandapada area of Nayagarh district.

Around 2:40 am on Sunday, very few vehicles were crossing the tollgate. At the gate number-8, suddenly a goods loaded truck speedily passed the tollgate. At that very moment, while Baral was crossing the gate collided with the truck and died on the spot. The whole visualisation of the incident was automatically being captured by the CCTV camera fixed at the tollgate, which provided the information about the incident that happened in that night.

At the same time, a police van passed the gate rightly after the truck, but they could not marked the incident happened suddenly, sources said. For sometimes, the tollgate employees blocked the road protesting the accident of their colleagues.

Vet Docs’ posting proposal to be placed before next cabinet

--Veterinary doctors call off strike

BHUBANESWAR: The veterinary doctors of the State called off their 20-day long strike on Monday following the decision taken by Animal Husbandry Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi to discuss on the demands in the next cabinet meeting.

From March 14, the veterinarians include 750 regular veterinary officers, around 150 contractual staff members and 400 students have staged dharna in front of the State Assembly demanding regularisation of existing contractual veterinary doctors, entry grade at junior class I, cadre restructuring and ad hoc appointment of veterinary graduates instead of contractual appointment.

After a complete discussion between the veterinary doctors and Minister Majhi on this matter, the veterinarians called off the strike. Majhi assured the veterinary doctors to place their posting proposal before the next cabinet meeting.

In the meeting, MLA Bijay Kumar Mohanty, Secretary of the department Satyabrata Sahu, Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, president and secretary of Veterinary Doctors Association, president of Odisha Veterinary College Students’ Association and others were present.

   

Eight arrested for killing youth in city suburb

BHUBANESWAR: The Commissionerate police on Monday arrested eight persons from Ghatikia and its nearby areas in the city in connection with the Sandeep Nanda murder case. Investigation is underway to arrest the other culprits, according to sources.

It may be noted that Sandeep Kumar Nanda (28) alias Bapi, a youth of Ghatikia, was allegedly killed by a gang of miscreants on Sunday night at Paikarapur.

On the day of the incident, Bapi and his friend had an argument with a betel-shop owner at Paikarapur following which the shop owner called some local youths over phone. After a few minutes, a gang of 15-20 local youths arrived at the spot and started beating Bapi and his friend. The gang members did not let them go even after beating.

Getting information that Bapi was serious, his family members rushed to the spot and found him unconscious. But the victim breathed his last on way to hospital.

Receiving an FIR from the family members, the Khandagiri police reached the spot and started investigation. Eight persons were arrested. To nab the other culprits, the police have started raid on different places. 

Youth mass prominent partner of State’s development: CM

BHUBANESWAR: At the State-level Odisha divas celebration and folk art festival, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the State has created a new identity in the country in the field of development. The State Government has initiated many schemes for the development of agriculture and industry, economy of the State and living standard of the people has been increased, he added.

On women empowerment Patnaik said the State has already witnessed numbers of women are participating in the process of development of the State. Women empowerment has created a mass movement in the State, he added.

“Through strong determination and entrepreneurial attitude of the youth, our State can renovate its past glory and we can be a developed State. The youth mass will be the prominent partner of State’s development,” said Patnaik while addressing the mass here.

Among others, State Assembly speaker Pradeep Amat, Revenue Minister Suryanarayan Patro, MP Prasanna Patsani, MLA’s of Bhubaneswar and departmental secretaries were present. On the occasion, two books ‘Utkal Prasanga’ and ‘Odisha Review’ were released by the Chief Minister.

After the general meeting, folk art festival started at the Exhibition ground. Folk dances including Jodisankha of Ganjam, Gotipua of Raghurajpur, Ghumura of Kalahandi, Demsa of Koraput, Laudi of Dhenkanal, Paika dance of Khurda, Chau of Mayurbhanj, Mogal Tamsa of Bhadrak, Jalia Sabar of Bouda, Karma of Sundergarh, Ghodanach and Sambalpuri dances took part in the festival.