BHUBANESWAR: A day after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik termed top BJP leaders and his counterparts from BJP-ruled states campaigning in the state political tourists, the saffron party came down on BJD for disrespecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet colleagues. Addressing three separate meetings of BJP workers in Bhubaneswar, Kendrapara and Balasore, the top five leaders of the party held a first-of-its-kind roadshow in Balasore to put up an united face. The leaders- state BJP pres

BHUBANESWAR: The BJD on Saturday hit out at BJP accusing it of spreading lies about Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa in Puri. The regional party also said that Ratna Bhandar will be opened in July this year. Addressing mediapersons at Sankha Bhawan, BJD Lok Sabha candidate for Berhampur Bhrugu Buxipatra slammed the BJP leaders for playing petty politics over Parikrama project and accused them of being in the habit of lying. Buxipatra said there is no truth in the claims of BJP that Rs 4,500 crore ha

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday hit out at his counterparts from BJP-ruled states, who during their campaign here are reiterating party promise to make Odisha no 1, saying they should look at their own states before commenting on the state. In a video message, Naveen said,They are making a lot of promises which include making Odisha number one state in the country. But people of the state are laughing at them. He advised the BJP chief ministers to concentrate on their own

BHUBANESWAR: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has seized cash, liquor, drugs and other valuable materials worth Rs 254 crore as part of its enforcement drive for election management in the state. Chief electoral officer (CEO) Nikunja Bihari Dhal said Rs 17.18 crore in cash, 31 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 35.63 crore, contraband, mostly ganja, worth Rs 74 crore along with precious metals worth around Rs 14 crore and other materials worth Rs 112.66 crore have been seized by different enfo

BHUBANESWAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive on a two-day visit to the state for his third leg of campaign for BJP. The prime minister will arrive here on Sunday evening and make a night halt at Raj Bhawan. The next morning he will leave for Puri at 7 am and have darshan of Lord Jagannath at Srimandir. After paying obeisance to the Trinity, the prime minister will hold a roadshow from Singhadwar to Medical Chhak from 7.30 am. After the roadshow, Modi will leave for Angul where he will a

BHUBANESWAR: Curtains came down on the high-pitched campaign for five Lok Sabha constituencies and 35 Assembly segments that will go to polls in the states second phase on May 20. Voting will be held in Aska, Bargarh, Balangir, Kandhamal and Sundargarh Parliamentary constituencies and the Assembly seats under them. This round will also seal Chief Minister Naveen Patnaiks fate in two constituencies of Hinjili under Aska and Kantabanji under Balangir Lok Sabha seats. Keeping in view the pre-poll v

CUTTACK: Railway Protection Force (RPF), Cuttack rescued a nine-month-old baby boy who was kidnapped from Ranchi in Jharkhand and arrested five persons. The accused are Amit Sanatan Pal (36), Radha Sahoo (38) and Sunil Mishra (18) of West Bengal, Nusrat Jahan (37) and Sohana Begum of Kalapancha within Charichhak police limits in Puri. Cuttack RPF IIC Anil Kumar Singh said one Pradeep Lohra of Dhagar Tola in Latehar district of Jharkhand had lodged a complaint with Chutia police station in Ranchi

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court has set June 26 as deadline for the state government to ensure decongestion of Bhubaneswar special jail, Jajpur district jail and the Bhadrak district jail. The high court had set the deadline on Friday after taking note of deputy inspector general (DIG) Prisons Gariba Sahus affidavit which said 20 jails in the state are overcrowded and three of them at Jajpur, Bhadrak and Bhubaneswar were constantly accommodating inmates much more than their capacity. In the other

BHUBANESWAR: The Crime Branch of Odisha Police on Saturday issued an advisory for citizens on online investment frauds that promise lucrative returns to investors. In 2023, CID-CB had registered about 22 cases in connection with online investment frauds amounting to Rs 8.5 crore. Such crimes witnessed a sharp jump in the state this year. The agency has already registered 25 cases of online investment frauds amounting to a whopping Rs 17 crore in the last four months. The Crime Branch pointed out

BHUBANESWAR: IIT Bhubaneswar will establish a centre for coastal and river bank erosion, primarily focusing on research related to the morphological aspects of coastal landforms, river bank stability, and scour and deposition issues related to various offshore structures. The centre will be set up by the School of Infrastructure under the Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure (FIST) scheme of the Ministry of Science and Technology. The institute has signed an MoU with Chennai-based NeXHS Re

BHUBANESWAR: Senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Saturday said BJD and BJP have a covert understanding and are fighting elections in the state only to hoodwink people. They (BJD and BJP) are running a double-engine government to exploit the resources of the state and its people, Pilot told mediapersons during his visit to the state to campaign for his partys candidates in Balasore Lok Sabha constituency. Coming down on the BJD government in the state, Pilot said it has failed on all fronts du

BHUBANESWAR: An Eddy covariance flux tower has been installed in the core area of Similipal Biosphere Reserve to study forest carbon sequestration which would help understand the impact of climate change on forest carbon dynamics. The tower has been installed at Pithabata south range by CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow. It will measure exchange of CO2, H2O and energy between the vegetation surface and the atmosphere, allowing researchers to generate scientific understan

BARGARH: With the Bargarh Parliamentary constituency going to polls in next 48 hours, candidates from various political parties left no stone unturned to woo voters before campaigning came to a close on Saturday. A charged yet chaotic atmosphere prevailed in the district as parties were seen making last ditch efforts to win the election scheduled on May 20. To avoid last-minute confusion, Congress had organised a well-coordinated rally on Friday evening aimed at leaving a lasting impression on t

SAMBALPUR: Home voting process for elections in Sambalpur Lok Sabha constituency is underway in full swing with over 701 votes collected so far from PwD and senior citizens aged 85 years and above. The district is set to go for polls on May 25. Sub-collector-cum-returning officer of Sambalpur, Puspanjali Panda said the first phase of home voting was held from May 13 to 16 and the second phase from May 17 to 18. Until now, home voting is over in Sambalpur and Rengali Assembly constituencies. The

JAJPUR: Two days after an illegal black stone quarry collapsed at Dankari within Jenapur police limits of Jajpur district, the rescue team on Saturday retrieved the bodies of two more persons from under the debris taking the death toll to three. Of the deceased, one has been identified as 21-year-old Jagabandhu Majhi of Umerkote in Nabarangapur district, while identity of the other is yet to be ascertained. The labourer whose body was found on the day of the incident is yet to be identified. An

KENDRAPARA: Forest officials caught three persons red-handed while they were allegedly transporting around five quintal mangrove roots in a boat in Bhitarkanika national park on Saturday. The accused were identified as Hrusikesh Majhi, Bhajahari Majhi and Ajay Mahalik of Chaudia village. Assistant conservator of forests (ACF) Manas Das said acting on a tip-off, forest officials nabbed the trio in the wee hours of the day. The accused were booked under sections 17 (A), 27, 29, 30, 31 and 51 of th

ROURKELA: Union Minister for Railways, IT, and Telecommunications, Ashwini Vaishnaw, returned to Bonai in Sundargarh district on Saturday, nearly three decades after serving as the sub-collector.He struck a personal chord with the local population while campaigning for the BJP. Speaking at a well-attended Vijay Sankalp Samavesh at the Babu Nuagaon playground, Vaishnaw expressed his nostalgia and deep emotional connection with the people of Bonai. He recalled his time as Bonai sub-collector in 19

BALASORE: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan lambasted the BJD government for its alleged neglect and demolition of religious sites in Odisha during a BJP workers meet here on Saturday. Pradhan, also the BJPs Lok Sabha candidate from Sambalpur, claimed that monks in the state have lost faith in the BJD due to its monopolistic practices over the past 25 years, which have purportedly led to the destruction of mathas and temples in Puri and other areas. He accused the BJD of distributing benefits of

PURI: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) intensified its campaign for the Puri Lok Sabha constituency on Saturday, with star campaigner VK Pandian addressing multiple public meetings to garner support for its Lok Sabha candidate, Arup Patnaik and Assembly nominee Umakant Samantaray. Pandian spoke at Krushna Prasad and Kerandia in the Brahmagiri Assembly segment, as well as Pipili, Chilika, and Ranpur. At Kerandia, Pandian criticised the Opposition parties for their alleged false promises and highlighted

BERHAMPUR: Additional DG RK Sharma tasked with overseeing law and order in Ganjam district, on Saturday, convened a meeting with IG JN Pankaj and Ganjam SP Jagmohan Meena to review the progress of probe into murder of BJP activist Dilip Pahan in Srikrushnasaranpur under Khallikote police limits. The murder, which occurred on May 15, has escalated tension in the area ahead of the May 20 elections. The Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed by DG Arun Sarangi, has begun its probe into the murder

BHUBANESWAR: An occupational health and safety awareness programme focusing on pneumoconiosis was organised at Odisha Coal and Power Ltd Manoharpur coal mine project recently. The programme organised under the aegis of the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) Bhubaneswar Region-II saw participation of around 200 workers. While a health check-up of the workers was conducted, they were also sensitised on the occupational hazards. A detailed and informative presentation on Pneumoconiosis - a

BHUBANESWAR/CUTTACK: A double-engine government by BJP is crucial for acceleration of development in Odisha, said Bollywood's dream girl and BJP leader Hema Malini on Friday. The star campaigner of BJP in her first election campaign in the state targeted the BJD government accusing it of failing to secure Odisha's progress on many fronts. Hema, who attended BJP's Ashirvad Samabesh at Salia Sahi, the state capital's biggest slum, to canvass for party's Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha candidate Aparajita Sa

CUTTACK: The Railway Board has sanctioned a final location survey for a new line between Angul and Nayagarh Town via Narasinghpur, Kantilo and Khandapada and a chord line between Khurda Town and Kaipadar Road. Addressing a Vijay Sankalp Samabesh at Sri Ram Bazaar in Narasinghpur, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw showed the sanction order and said the new line is poised to bring significant economic and infrastructural benefits to the region, enhancing connectivity and fostering growth. The Rail

BHUBANESWAR: As campaign has reached a peak ahead of the second phase elections in Odisha on May 20, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday came down heavily on the Union ministers, CMs from other states and others leaders for resorting to what he termed derogatory and abusive language in their campaign meetings and rallies. With the Opposition, particularly the BJP pressing all its might in the state to win the polls by bringing in top ministers, its CMs and top leaders, the chief minister sai

SAMBALPUR/ANGUL: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday visited Sambalpur, Angul and Dhenkanal districts urging people to exercise their franchise in favour of BJD candidates from the areas during the polls. In Sambalpur, the chief minister, bolstering his support for BJD organisational secretary and MP candidate from Sambalpur seat Pranab Prakash Das along with MLA candidates from Sambalpur and Rengali, Rohit Pujari and Sudarshan Haripal, appealed to the people to vote for Jodi Sankha. Address

BERHAMPUR: A group of miscreants made a failed attempt to free a murder accused detained at Kodola police station in Ganjam district, resulting in a scuffle with police officers. The accused, Bikram Parida of Chachina village, is wanted in connection with the 2023 murder of Dipu Patra, a Surat returnee allegedly killed over illegal liquor trade disputes. Although five persons, including a juvenile, were arrested in October 2023, Bikram had been absconding until his arrest on Wednesday evening. D

BALANGIR: BJP candidate from Titlagarh Assembly constituency Nabin Jain narrowly escaped an attack by a group of youths while he was returning from Saintala late on Thursday night. Police arrested five persons in the connection on Friday. Though Jain escaped the attack, two of his supporters sustained injuries after being beaten up by the miscreants and are currently undergoing treatment. The victims Dolamani Bastia sustained head injuries while Nagendra Behera received wounds in his leg. Jain,

BERHAMPUR: Ahead of second phase polls in the state, sporadic instances of pre-election violence have been reported across Ganjam district. Anti-social elements, allegedly supported by political parties, have become increasingly active. In Polasara, unidentified youths shot at BJD supporter Ganesh Khatei (39) on Thursday, who narrowly escaped with a grazing head injury. Sources said while Ganesh was standing at College Chowk, the bike-borne youths fired at him and drove away. A bleeding Ganesh w

BALASORE: Balasore MP and BJP Lok Sabha candidate Pratap Chandra Sarangi has urged the police and district labour office to take stern action against the owner of a prawn processing factory for employing minor girls. On Thursday, more than 18 girls including minors working in the factory had to be rushed to hospital after they fell ill following ammonia gas leakage. Sources said, the gas leak in Snow World Prawn Processing Unit was reportedly caused by a technical issue at the factory located in

BHUBANESWAR: A day after ordering deployment of 20 companies of CAPF in Ganjam in view of pre-poll violence in Khallikote, chief electoral officer (CEO) Nikunja Bihari Dhal on Friday held talks with political parties seeking their cooperation in ensuring peaceful voting in the next three phases of elections. During the meeting, attended by leaders of major political parties, the CEO reiterated there is no place for violence in democracy and no law and order situation will be tolerated during the

ROURKELA: Union Home Minister Amit Shah once again launched a scathing attack on the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government, dubbing it the Jhola Sarkar over issues related to the Public Distribution System (PDS) rice scheme. Addressing a massive election rally in Rourkela, Shah sought votes for BJPs Sundargarh Lok Sabha candidate Jual Oram and the partys Assembly candidates for Rourkela, RN Pali, and Birmitrapur. Shah questioned the competence of the BJD government, raising concerns about the admini

BHUBANESWAR: Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) will soon offer core banking facilities like real-time gross settlement (RTGS), national electronic fund transfer (NEFT) and micro ATM provisions. Computerisation of more than 95 per cent of the 2,710 PACS in 30 districts of the state has been completed and data migrated to common banking software (CBS). The NEFT/RTGS service will enable inter-bank electronic fund transfer services for PACS. The PACS in the state are a part of around

A distance of 335 km between two places can change many things. Two different geographies could mean different lives, livelihood, dialects, climate, cultural practices, food and a lot more. But, between Hinjili and Kantabanji, there are dissimilarities and equally, a common ground. Hinjili, for all the attention it garnered over the last two decades and a half, is like a reluctant celebrity. A quaint little semi-urban place, it has grown over the years into a municipal area with modern amenities

BHUBANESWAR: After furore over murder of a BJP worker in Ganjam district, DGP Arun Kumar Sarangi on Friday ordered to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the sensitive case on a priority basis. The police have so far arrested nine miscreants in connection with the case. According to the Odisha Police, the SIT will make efforts for early arrest of all those involved in the crime, collect evidence (scientific/forensic/digital) and submit the chargesheet of the case within 30 days for

BHUBANESWAR: The Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities on Thursday directed collectors of nine districts to strictly implement Orissa High Courts orders in connection with treatment, rehabilitation and other aspects of leprosy-affected persons. In a directive to collectors of Bargarh, Balasore, Cuttack, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Khurda, Mayurbhanj, Puri and Sundargarh, the department asked them to ensure regular visits of district welfare officers and medical teams

BHUBANESWAR: Directorate of Horticulture has entered into a collaboration with Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) to revamp market linkage of farmer producer organisations (FPOs) in Odisha and tap global markets. With the help of Palladium as the technical support unit of the promotion and stabilisation of farmer producer organisations (PSFPOs), this strategic alliance aims at facilitating the seamless integration of Odishas premium mango and fresh vege

BHUBANESWAR: Sambalpur Universitys Centre of Excellence in Natural Products and Therapeutics has started a research internship programme for students of the institution and from outside the state, becoming the first public university of Odisha to do so. The internship is for both under-graduate and post-graduate students who can learn about research techniques, approach, equipment, among other things at the centre of excellence. Senior officials of the Higher Education department informed this i

BHUBANESWAR: With the 16th Finance Commission set to hold talks with states over financial devolution, the Odisha government has begun the process of preparing a full-fledged proposal on the states demands as per the terms of reference. The commission, headed by former vice chairman of NITI Aayog Arvind Panagariya, is expected to resolve the controversy over tax devolution and suggest ways to augment the states respective consolidated funds to supplement the resources of local bodies such as pan

JHARSUGUDA: Calling for local representation in Odishas governance, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stirred controversy during an election campaign rally in Belpahar, Jharsuguda by raking up the issue of the lost keys of the Ratna Bhandar of Shree Jagannath temple. Criticising the incumbent Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government led by Naveen Patnaik, Sarma said there is serious lack of trust and accountability. Attending a public meeting of BJP at Belpahar, Sarma lamented the absence of Odia

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court directed for immediate opening of the tender bids for installation of fire fighting systems in SCB medical college and hospital without waiting for permission of the chief electoral officer (CEO), Odisha. The two-judge bench of Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Justice MS Raman held, Since this matter is of immense public importance concerning lives of patients undergoing treatment, doctors, paramedical attendants and all concerned in one of the biggest ho

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court on Thursday stayed the execution of a non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued against Kendrapara MP Anubhav Mohanty in a case of cruelty and insulting the modesty of woman brought by his wife Varsha Priyadarshini in December 2020, prior to their divorce. Anubhav had moved the high court for the cancellation of the NBW against him in the case. Senior advocate Pitambar Acharya argued on behalf of Anubhav, who joined the BJP on April 1. While issuing the interim order, the

ROURKELA: Taking potshots at Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during an election meeting in Sundargarh town on Thursday evening, BJP national president JP Nadda called the BJD government a'remote-controlled government. Nadda was campaigning for the BJP's Sundargarh Lok Sabha candidate, Jual Oram and other contenders from Sundargarh, Talsara and Rajgangpur Assembly constituencies, Kusum Tete, BS Bhoi and Narsingh Minz, respectively. Launching a veiled attack on 5T chairman and BJD leader VK Pandian,

BERHAMPUR/BHUBANESWAR: As Odisha readies for its second phase elections, pre-poll violence raised its ugly head in Ganjam district where a BJP worker was killed and eight others injured in a clash with BJD supporters at Srikrushnasaranpur village under Khallikote police limits. According to reports, the clash took place on Wednesday night over putting up banners by the BJP workers led by local party leader Dilip Pahan in the village which was opposed by the BJD supporters. Pahan is reported to h

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday held a massive roadshow in the state capital during which he reached out to people reiterating BJDs commitment to provide free power to 90 per cent of families in Odisha. In what is viewed as a well thought out strategy, the BJD pulled out its most popular face and star campaigner to neutralise the impact of Prime Minister Narendra Modis roadshow held exactly a week back. Naveen was given a rousing welcome by thousands of supporters as the m

BHUBANESWAR: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday claimed his party will form the next government in Odisha. BJD and BJP have ruined the state. People will not vote for them. After 24 years, Congress will again come to power in Odisha, Kharge told mediapersons here. He asserted BJP will not return to power at the Centre and said this time an INDIA alliance government will be sworn to save democracy, protect the Constitution and ensure unity of the country. The BJP at the most will g

BHUBANESWAR: BJP national president JP Nadda on Thursday said, people of Odisha have taken a unilateral decision to bless BJP in both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections this time as they want to give rest to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Holding a roadshow in the state capital in support of partys candidates, Nadda asserted that people of the state want to bring the BJP government with a two-thirds majority. The BJP president held a 2 km roadshow from Mausima temple to Lingaraj temple in the

SAMBALPUR: Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha candidate for Sambalpur, Dharmendra Pradhan, launched a scathing attack on the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) during his election campaign in Sambalpur city on Thursday. Pradhan lamented the alleged neglect of Sambalpur despite the state being under BJD rule for 24 years, accusing the government of adopting a step-motherly attitude towards the region. During his campaign trail, Pradhan engaged in door-to-door canvassing in Tablap

BHUBANESWAR: Star campaigner of BJD VK Pandian on Thursday said people of Odisha will not tolerate ministers from Chhattisgarh disrespecting Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during their poll campaign and give a befitting reply to them. Launching a marathon campaign in Balangir Lok Sabha constituency during which he addressed election meetings at Titlagarh, Kantabanji, Patnagarh and Loisingha, Pandian said BJP leaders are talking about Odia Asmita but abusing the most popular leader of the state wi

PURI: Niladri Mahodaya, the foundation day of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri was observed with traditional fervour and according to the prescribed guidelines of the shrine on Wednesday. As per the Madala panji, (almanac) Srimandir was consecrated on this day which falls on Astami Tithi, and idols of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra installed on the Ratnasimhasan. The occasion holds significance as it is one of the 12 important festivals observed in the temple. The day began

BERHAMPUR: Berhampur Sadar police on Thursday arrested a Congress MLA candidate from the Digapahandi Assembly segment and his associate for their alleged involvement in the attack on a group of realtors the previous day. The candidate S Sujit Kumar and his associate K Amit Kumar had a heated exchange of words with the realtors over a piece of land in Kukudakhandi on Wednesday, following which Sujits supporters allegedly threatened the latter with dire consequences, SDPO Subhranshu Parida said. T