Countdown begins for counting of votes in State

BHUBANESWAR: Countdown has begun for counting of votes in the State which would be held on May 16. The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday discussed in detail through videoconference with the District Election Officers (DEOs) about the security and smooth execution of the counting process in the centres across the State. 

Notably, counting of votes would be done in 159 halls in 64 centres in the State in which about 12000 employees would be engaged.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mona Sharma while briefing reporters here on Monday said as per the directive of the ECI, a district level meeting is underway where the officials, having any doubt, would consult the Returning Officer (RO) and Additional RO before the commencement of counting.

Sharma said they have arranged one hall for one Assembly constituency and Assembly constituency segments of the Parliamentary constituency. For 13 Assembly constituencies, two halls have been provided where counting would be done amid tight security, she added. 

Three-tier security would be put in place in each counting centre where no police officer or security guard of any minister would be allowed to enter, CEO office sources said.

The CEO said they would open media centres at every counting hall to inform the media persons about the instant results. Senior officials from the District Information and Public Relations Office would be engaged in the media centres, she added.   

In the capital city, the CEO has asked the Information and Public Relations department to flash the counting results on the screen at Jayadev Bhawan here.

Boat tragedy: 5 drown, 7 missing as boat capsized in Jagatsinghpur

--One feared drowned, 4 rescued in Malkangiri

JAGATSINGHPUR/MALKANGIRI: In a tragic incident, five persons drowned and seven were missing when a boat carrying around 30 people capsized in the mid of the Biluakhai river near Nachipur village in Jagatsinghpur district on Friday evening. 

   

According to reports, a group of around 30 devotees hired a boat and went to Sidheswar temple to witness Yajna there. While returning from the temple, the boat capsized in the middle of the river near Nachipur at around 7.30 pm.

Five persons died on the spot, seven went missing when the boat drowned. Deceased identified as Sashirekha (15) and Smrutirekha (17), daughters of Madhabananda Biswal of Nachipur, Sweety (15) and Beauty (17), daughters of Subash Biswal of the same village, and Papu Bhoi (22) of Ninigaon under Jagatsinghpur district. 

After getting information about the mishap, the fire brigade and the district police rushed to the spot and swung into the action to rescue the devotees trapped in middle of the river. 

Though the reason of the mishap is yet to be known, sources said, overcrowded might be a cause behind the incident. Five persons were rushed to a Community Health Centre at Manda Sahi for treatment. Rescue operation is on to search other missing persons, police sources said.         

In another incident, one person is feared drowned while four others have been rescued after a country boat capsized in the Sileru River in Malkangiri district on Friday.

Red Cross God’s own organisation: Chief Secy

--World Red Cross Day celebrated

BHUBANESWAR: “Red Cross is God’s own organisation, revered by all,” said State Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra while addressing the gathering at a State-level function hosted by Indian Red Cross Society, Odisha State Branch (IRCS-OSB) here on Thursday on the occasion of World Red Cross Day.

Mohapatra appreciated the humanitarian initiatives taken by the IRCS-OSB and urged its volunteers and officials to carry forward the good work. He lauded Red Cross for opening Jan Aushadhi (Generic Medicine) counters in the State which has been replicated by other States. 

He said the Red Cross’s community based disaster preparedness and Multi Purpose Cyclone Shelters, which has been adopted by the Government later, saved precious lives of people during Super Cyclone, recent Phailin and flood. He urged the office bearers and members to undertake more such innovative humanitarian activities and thanked the organisation on behalf of the State Government.

Awards and certificates were presented to successful students and youths for their excellent jobs in social service sector.  

Among others, School and Mass Education department Secretary Usha Padhee, Prof Asha Hans, Cooperation Assistant of International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) John George Red Cross Members, IRCS-OSB honorary secretary MP Mohanty, counselors and volunteers of the Red Cross and invitees in large numbers attended the celebration.

Woman killed by in-laws for failing to give birth to baby

DHENKANAL: A woman was allegedly set on fire by her in-laws for not bearing baby for long at Gopalpur village under Motunga police limits in Dhenkanal district on Wednesday night. The police arrested husband of the deceased and have launched a manhunt to nab others involved in the inhuman act.

According to the police, Anita, daughter of Kamala Parida of Handidhua village of Talcher area had tied the knot with Manoj Behera of Gopalpur six years ago. She had allegedly been tortured by her in-laws members for failing to give birth to baby. They had also been torturing her mentally demanding more dowries, police added.

On Wednesday night, the police sources said, in-laws of Anita allegedly set her on fire after pouring kerosene. Critically injured Anita was rushed to district headquarters hospital at Dhenkanal where doctors declared her dead. A case has been registered and investigation is on, police said.

Meanwhile, the State Commission for Women (SCW) took suo motu cognizance of the death if the woman and decided to send a team to investigate into the matter. SCW chairperson Lopamudra Bauxipatra condemned the barbaric incident in strong words and said that she will take the issue seriously.

RCM students call off stir, praise media for supports

BHUBANESWAR: MBA and MCA students of the Regional College of Management Autonomous (RCMA), who had staged indefinite dharna for 86 days demanding issuance of certificates in favour of passed out students, called off their dharna on Thursday following the governing body of the Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) assured them to provide certificates soon.

The students said their movement got success due to commitment to the cause. Despite all the odds and noncooperation from the college authority, they did it after a long fight of 86 days.

“Finally, the Government authorities agreed to issue certificates in favour of the students. Our demands will be fulfilled be very soon,” said RCM student Raza Quadir, adding, “Our movement will be an example for the students of private colleges fighting for their cause.” 

Another student said they didn’t give up in the middle in spite of the police assaulted them in midnight. They continued their dharna in front of their college and later at the Lower PMG to get their demands fulfilled.

The students praised the media for taking initiatives to highlight their issues and keeping eye on their movement as a result the police and other officials could not get chance to harass them.            

70 houses gutted in city slum fire; one killed

BHUBANESWAR: In a tragic incident, a person was charred to death and more than 70 houses were gutted as a fire engulfed Mangala slum in the Unit-IV area under the Kharavel Nagar police limits here on Friday.

The deceased, identified as Krushna Sahu, died in the incident as he failed to move out of house, Assistant Fire Officer R C Majhi said. Five persons, who sustained minor burns, have been sent to hospital, he added.

Majhi said the fire, which erupted from a house in the slum at around 11 am, spread rapidly to other houses. Preliminary reports said that over 70 houses were reduced to ashes but exact figure of property damage would be ascertained after a proper survey, he added. 

As many as five Fire tenders were pressed into service to control the blaze. Apart from Fire brigade, volunteers from the Red Cross, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), police personnel and locals assisted in the fire fighting and rescue operation, sources said.

Though the actual reason is yet to be ascertained, locals said the fire broke out after a LPG gas cylinder went off inside the kitchen of a house. 

Trinath Behera of the slum alleged that fire brigade team reached the spot after one hour by the time fire had already engulfed most of the houses. 

Another slum dweller Susmita Behera, who lost her house in the fire mishap, was worried about her daughter’s marriage as she lost all electronic materials, TV, freeze and other household items purchased recently for the purpose.

Meanwhile, BMC Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena along with other officials of the BMC reached the spot and took stock of the situation.