Balasore: Arrested BJD leader Soumyashankar Chakra, also known as Raja Chakra, was sent to judicial custody until March 19 by the Balasore High Court, officials said Friday.

According to reports, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has not yet filed a remand petition against Chakra, and his lawyer, Raghunath Pradhan, has not applied for bail. Earlier, authorities arrested former cooperative chairman Manas Ranjan Barik and secretary Utkal Das in connection with the case.

Chakra was arrested Thursday by the Crime Branch in connection with an alleged corruption case involving the Gandhamardan Mining Loading Agency in Keonjhar. He is accused of playing a key role in a scam worth Rs 185 crore ($22.2 million).

Authorities allege Chakra, in collaboration with other officials, siphoned off large sums of money. Official records indicate that the cooperative earned a profit of Rs 185 crore between 2017-18 and March 2024, though no audit has been conducted since 2012-13.

Dhenkanal: After mangoes, the demand for Dhenkanal’s green papaya is growing internationally.

The fruit’s unique taste and health benefits have sparked interest among consumers abroad. A total of one tonne of green papaya, cultivated by 14 women farmers from the Saptasajya Agro Producer Company under the Sadar block of Dhenkanal district, was exported to London last week.

Similarly, green papaya harvested from the Ghatipiri area of the Odapada block was shipped to Dublin in Ireland, through the Madan Mohan Cooperative Society.

This marks the first time that green papaya from Dhenkanal has been exported outside India. Most of these women farmers belong to tribal communities.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the export process, aiming to provide significant economic benefits to local farmers. Previously, mangoes grown in Dhenkanal had been exported to Dubai. With the rising demand for fruits like green papaya and mangoes grown in the region, there is a crucial need for cold storage facilities.

Meanwhile, farmers have urged authorities to operationalise the abandoned mango hub and the fruit and vegetable preservation centre located along the national highway in Gobindpur under Sadar block.

Dhenkanal Deputy Director of Horticulture Gitashree Padhi stated that green papaya from the district has been exported to London and Ireland for the first time through Saptasajya Agro Producer Company and the Madan Mohan Cooperative Society, with support from APEDA.

She emphasised that such initiatives would encourage farmers and strengthen their economic standing.

PNN

Hatadihi: A court in Anandapur of Keonjhar district Thursday sentenced a 68-year-old woman to life imprisonment and slapped a penalty of Rs10,000 after convicting her for the murder of her friend.

The convict was identified as Sara Naik of Mathadahi village under Soso police limits in Keonjhar district.

The Additional District and Sessions Judge Prajyoti Rout delivered the verdict after reviewing the witnesses’ testimonies and evidence.

In default, she has to undergo an additional year in prison. The case dates back to June 25, 2022, when Sara bludgeoned her friend, Jashoda Patra, with stones.

Patra’s daughter, Shantilata, found her in critical condition near Podasingidi village and rushed her to Anandapur Sub-Divisional Hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead. Following a complaint filed by Shantilata, officials at Soso police station registered a case (110/2022) and arrested Naik the next day.

Out of 20 witnesses presented in court, 15 testified against the accused, leading to her conviction. Defence lawyer Subash Bishwal stated that the court handed down the life sentence based on the evidence presented.

PNN

Kendrapara: Residents of Charigharia village, located inside the Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district, are reportedly planning to intensify their agitation for adequate resettlement as their decade-old struggle over the same has yielded no results so far.

At present, over 70 households in the village, which falls under Rajnagar Forest Division, are living in a perpetual state of anxiety as they have been slapped with repeated eviction notices from the Forest department, while the district administration has started preparations for their eviction without making any resettlement arrangements, reports said.

They demand their rehabilitation in line with the relocation of Satabhaya villagers in the Rajnagar block to Bagapatia. The relocation of Satabhaya residents was necessitated due to coastal erosion. “We have been fighting for relocation to Bagapatia for over a decade now. However, a recent eviction notice has heightened our concerns.” Santosh Kumar Sarkar is a resident of Charigharia village.

Sarkar claimed that their ancestors had been living in the area long before Bhitarkanika was declared a national park. In the aftermath of the 1971 cyclone, four families settled down in the area, giving rise to the name ‘Charigharia Sahi. ’ At present, the number of households has grown to over 70.

The Central government declared Bhitarkanika a wildlife sanctuary in 1975 and upgraded it to a national park in 1998. According to villager Reshmi Das, life in Charigharia has become increasingly dangerous. “The Forest department has dug canals near the village, which have become breeding grounds for crocodiles.

Villagers and livestock frequently fall victim to crocodile and other wildlife attacks,” Das said. She said that despite living in a forest area, strict restrictions imposed by the Forest department have hindered their traditional livelihood activities, such as firewood collection.

While many villagers are willing to relocate, they expressed frustration over the administration’s alleged lack of urgency in facilitating the process. Sukumar Das, another villager, stated that the villagers are ready to shift immediately if the government includes them in the resettlement plan and provides land and financial assistance in Bagapatia.

He said the villagers have staged repeated protests and hunger strikes over the demand for fair resettlement. Meanwhile, the Tesildar, Amiya Kumar Swain, said that the process of relocating Charigharia residents to Bagapatia is under consideration.

“A total of 148 families have been identifi ed for relocation,” he said. Swain claimed that ‘some individuals’ are trying to claim multiple plots under the resettlement scheme.

PNN

Basudevpur: Two horses have been on the rampage in the Basudevpur area of Bhadrak district, terrorising people, as more than 20 individuals have been bitten by the horses over the past 15 days.

The horses have been roaming freely in Basudevpur market and surrounding areas and entering shops in search of food.

It remains unclear whether they are aggressive due to hunger or exhibiting some other abnormal behaviour.

One of the horses has been in the area for nearly a month, while the other arrived recently. However, their origin remains unknown. Despite repeated attempts, local authorities have failed to capture the horses. The Forest Department, Animal Husbandry Department, and municipality have not taken effective action, leading to growing frustration among residents.

Concerns regarding public safety have been raised during a road safety awareness meeting attended by District Collector Dilip Routaray, MLA Ashok Kumar Das, and police officials.

When questioned, Municipal Executive Officer Sudhanshu Mohan Swain stated that steps would be taken to capture the horses with the support of relevant departments.

PNN

Rajnagar: The movements and lifestyle of the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtle still remain shrouded in mystery, despite extensive conservation efforts being undertaken owing to their significant role in maintaining ecological balance.

To study their migration patterns and shed light on their secret underwater lives, scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have deployed satellite tags on two Olive Ridley turtles at Nasi in Gahirmatha beach here in the Kendrapara district.

Every year, lakhs of these turtles gather at Gahirmatha for mass nesting, but researchers still do not fully understand where they come from, why they choose this location, or where they go after laying their eggs.

While scientists have observed both hatchlings and egg-laying adult turtles, juvenile and sub-adult turtles remain elusive, adding to the mystery of the species’ life cycle. For the first time in several years, researchers from WII have tagged two turtles with satellite transmitters.

The matter came to the fore after a team from WII reached the Nasi Islands at Gahirmatha and attached the devices to the turtles Wednesday. The collected data will be analysed by WII’s Dehradun-based research centre.

This year, 6,06,933 Olive Ridley turtles participated in the mass nesting event at Gahirmatha. At Nasi-2 Island alone, 3,11,483 turtles laid eggs, while another 2,95,450 turtles nested at Nasi-1—the highest recorded number in 33 years. Female turtles come ashore to lay eggs, while males spend their entire lives in the ocean. A total of 10 previously tagged turtles were observed nesting at Gahirmatha this year.

PNN

Ramanaguda: A 15-year-old girl committed suicide by hanging after she lost a significant amount of money while playing an online game on her mobile phone at Ganaptiguda village under this block in the Rayagada district.

The deceased, identified as Saina Sahu, 15, ended her life by hanging using a scarf.

The matter came to the fore after her aunt Lili Pattnayak lodged a complaint in this connection at the Ramanaguda police station Wednesday evening.

Police sources said the girl used to live with her grandmother and was regularly playing an online game. She had reportedly lost over lakhs in the game but continued playing despite repeated warnings from her family. She told her grandmother Wednesday that she was going to the toilet in the backyard but did not return for long.

When her grandmother went to check, she found Saina hanging and immediately informed the police.

Gunupur SDPO Babuli Nayak, Tehsildar Pranakrishna Panigrahi, Ramanaguda IIC Sunita Behera, and ASI Pruthwiraj Jhankar reached the spot and recovered the body.

A scientific team was also pressed into service. Police registered a case and handed over the body to her family members after post-mortem.

When contacted, IIC Sunita Behera said that the actual reason behind the death could be ascertained only after the post-mortem report is available.

PNN

Sambalpur: A first-year engineering student of Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT) in Burla drowned in the power channel of the Hirakud dam while bathing Thursday.

The deceased has been identified as Priyanshu Prakash Behera, 19, son of Sanjay Behera from Dhenkanal. Priyanshu was pursuing civil engineering at VSSUT.

According to reports, Priyanshu and some of his friends went to the power channel of the Hirakud dam Thursday morning for a bath.

While bathing, the 19-year-old was swept away into deep water and drowned.

His friends immediately rescued him and rushed him to Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), but doctors declared him dead.

PNN

Balasore: The centuries-old Pinchabania Holi festival, once a grand cultural spectacle in the Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts, is witnessing a decline in its traditional vibrancy. Recognized across Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand as Pinchabania Dola Melan, the festival has seen a major shift, with the iconic Radha-Krishna palanquin processions disappearing in recent years.

Earlier, multiple Radha-Krishna idols from distant villages participated in the Dola Melan, adding to its spiritual fervour. However, this practice has dwindled, with only locally worshipped village deities now featuring in the event. While commercial activities have expanded, the festival’s age-old traditions are fading, raising concerns among cultural enthusiasts.

The four-day fair continues to attract over a lakh visitors, with trade stalls offering traditional handicrafts such as Khiching’s stone figurines, Remuna’s brassware, Pipili’s applique work, and bamboo artifacts from Chandaneswar and Bhograi.

Other popular items include bamboo baskets, fishing nets, hand fans, and household wares. Despite its rich history, the festival lacks state support from the Culture and Tourism Department, making its revival uncertain. Dola Mela Cultural Committee president Sanjay Kumar Sethi has urged the government to organize cultural exhibitions and awareness programmes to restore its traditional significance.

The Pinchabania fairground in Balasore was auctioned for `6.15 lakh, while the Purunia fairground in Mayurbhanj fetched `5.77 lakh, as per block office sources.

PNN

Bhubaneswar: Eight places in Odisha recorded a maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius or more Thursday, the Met department said.

Jharsuguda was the hottest place in the state, recording a temperature of 41.4 degrees Celsius.

Boudh followed Jharsuguda at 40.8 degrees Celsius, while Bolangir was next at 40.4 degrees Celsius, as per the evening bulletin issued by the IMD’s Bhubaneswar centre.

Hirakud, Titlagarh and Bhadrak towns recorded a maximum temperature of 40.1 degrees Celsius each. Besides, Baripada and Sambalpur registered the maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius each, it said.

Forecasting heatwave, the weather office has issued ‘yellow’ warning (be aware) for the districts of Kalahandi, Bolangir, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Angul, Boudh, Sambalpur, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, and Subarnapur for Friday.

Heatwave conditions are expected to continue for another three days (till March 17), the Met centre said.

The India Meteorological Department advised people to avoid heat exposure and wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose, cotton clothes, and to cover their heads with a cloth, hat or umbrella while moving out during the peak daytime.

PTI

Bhubaneswar: As many as 17,348 people have been killed and 31,441 others injured in road accidents in Odisha in the last three years, state Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena informed the Assembly Thursday.

In a written reply to a question from BJD legislator Prasanta Behera, the minister submitted the detailed road accident data.

As per the statistics furnished by Jena, a total of 36,030 road accidents took place in Odisha in 2022, 2023 and 2024, in which, 17,348 people were killed and 31,441 individuals injured.

The number of road accidents, casualties and injured persons increased in each passing year over the last three years.

While 5,467 people were killed in road accidents in 2022, the death figure increased to 5,739 in 2023 and 6,142 in 2024.

Similarly, the number of people injured in road accidents also increased from 10,302 in 2022 to 10,369 in 2023 and 10,770 in 2024.

The minister informed that 11,663 road accidents were reported in Odisha in 2022, which marginally increased to 11,992 in 2023 and further to 12,375 in 2024.

In another reply in the House, the transport minister said that 484 road accidents took place in the state in January, 2025, when the state was observing National Road Safety Month with an investment of Rs 1.89 crore.

During the month, 505 people died and 472 got injured in road accidents.

PTI

Balasore: A 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death allegedly by his father in Odisha’s Balasore district, police said Thursday.

The incident occurred in Narama village under Khaira police limits Wednesday night, they added.

According to police, Jogendra Sing returned home drunk and started beating his wife Muni Sing following an altercation.

When their son Rajesh intervened to stop the scuffle, Jogendra, in a fit of rage, grabbed a knife and stabbed his son in the chest, police said.

Relatives and neighbours rushed the injured teenager to Oupada hospital and later shifted him to Soro hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.

Police have detained Jogendra and are currently investigating the incident.

Jogendra had migrated to Narama from Udala in neighbouring Mayurbhanj district about six years ago.

PTI

Sambalpur: Many women face hardships in life, but some refuse to give up. Instead, they turn their struggles into strength and work for the betterment of society, inspiring others. One such woman is Anita Bag, an Anganwadi worker from Daldalipada in Sambalpur district. Daldalipada, near Khetrajpur railway station in Sambalpur, is home to a predominantly Scheduled Caste population. Despite living in an urban area, residents lack access to proper education and healthcare.

In these challenging circumstances, Anita has stepped forward to help. Under her leadership, voluntary organisation ‘Our Helping Hand’ has become a source of hope for the community. Anita has endured significant hardships in her life. Her husband Ajay Suna has been missing since 2008 after setting off for Rourkela. Despite this, she pursued her education, secured a master’s degree in social work and has joined as an Anganwadi worker. She has also supported her elder daughter, who is a second year M Tech student at VSSUT, and her younger daughter, who is pursuing law. Anita’s dedication and benevolence extend beyond her family. She is committed to educating and empowering children in her community.

In 2012, alongside her sister Kabita Bag and other women, she founded ‘Our Helping Hand’ to support underprivileged families. The organisation gained recognition in 2014 for its work during a jaundice outbreak, when its volunteers distributed safe drinking water, sprayed bleaching powder and raised awareness about hygiene in more than 30 affected households in the locality. The organisation also focuses on skill development. Children working as domestic helpers have received training in making paper bags, packaging spices and tailoring and helping them become self-sufficient. “In areas where government initiatives have fallen short, ‘Our Helping Hand’ has provided access to education,” said Anita.

Also Read: HC stays managing committee changes in Danar co-op society

So far, it has helped educate around 350 students and continues to support 50 children through evening classes and vocational training, she added. Beyond education, Anita has taken steps to promote public health awareness. Despite facing adversity, she has not only ensured a good education for her own family but also worked for years to make her community self-reliant. Today, more than 20 men and women actively support her efforts. At a time when empowerment of women is a global topic, Anita stands as a beacon of inspiration for others.

Tihidi: With the festival of colours ‘Holi’ round the corner, villages, markets, shrines and other public places will witness heavy rush, while Dola Melan and Kumbh Mela being planned at various locations would also pull crowds. However, severe staff crunch at two major police stations – Tihidi and Pirahat – has raised doubts over smooth conduct of the festival, especially when the inspector-in-charge (IIC) posts remaining vacant there. Reports said the IIC post at Tihidi PS has remained vacant since January 31. The station has only three sub-inspectors (SIs), instead of five.

Similarly, only five assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs) are at work instead of a sanctioned strength of eight. The PS is also running short of five constables. Moreover, of the three havildars, two will retire March 31. There is considerable pressure on Tihidi PS as some of its officers are deployed in several other blocks of the district during festivals, exams and for headquarters responsibilities. The PS oversees 19 panchayats, including several sensitive areas where maintaining law and order is not easy.

Similarly, the IIC post at Pirahat PS has been vacant since February 15. Instead of three SIs, the station runs with two, including a female officer. Likewise, out of three sanctioned ASI posts, two are vacant. And, seven constable posts are yet to be filled. The station has only two home guards. Pirahat PS oversees 12 panchayats, some of which, like Barasara, Gobindpur, Shyamsundarpur and Narendrapur are over 12km away. With this skeletal staff strength at the police stations, locals have raised doubts over smooth ‘Holi’ celebrations. Areas like Kalimegha, Jharpata, and Tihidi will witness heavy rush during Dola Purnima that will be observed March 14. “Managing the crowd at these places would be a herculean task for the police in the evening,” said a local. Adding to the problem, reports also said Chandbali SDPO post has remained vacant for the last five months. Given these challenges, locals have demanded immediate action and deployment of additional police personnel in these areas. Assistant Superintendent of Police Arup Abhishek Behera said special officers will be deputed to man the ‘Holi’ arrangements. “Efforts are being made to fill the vacancies in a phased manner,” he added.

Also Read: New fish species Ariosoma Tamilicum identified

Hatadihi: The Orissa High Court has issued an interim order directing that the current status of the managing committee of the Danar Service Cooperative Society in Hatadihi block of Keonjhar district, be maintained.

The order, issued March 5, 2025, came in response to a petition filed by society chairman Akshaya Dhal (case number is W.P.(C)-6388/2025). The court has also sought a report from the affected parties. The dispute arose over the transfer of nine directors from the Danar Service Cooperative Society to the newly formed Kaligaon and Gedama cooperative societies.

Even after their membership was officially transferred June 9, 2023, these directors continued to function in the society’s management committee. The disagreement allegedly escalated when society secretary Umakant Nayak raised objections January 18, 2025. Following this, as per the directives issued September 29, 2023, the Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS) had issued a letter (No 2182) February 3, 2025 requesting a report from the Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies (DRCS), Keonjhar. As a result, the membership of the nine directors was officially transferred from the Kaligaon and Gedama cooperative societies to the Danar Service Cooperative Society. However, the Danar society did not acknowledge or accept this transfer. Nayak convened a managing committee meeting where discussions were held regarding appointing the vice chairman as the acting chairman.

Also Read: Tihidi, Pirahat police stations run sans IICs

Berhampur: A collaborative effort by Indian Marine Biodiversity Centre at Gopalpur in Ganjam district and National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources in Kerala led to the identification of new fish species – Ariosoma tamilicum – in the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Also Read: Braving odds, Anita goes extra mile to help others

According to Anil Mohapatra, a scientist at the Indian Marine Biodiversity Centre, the eel species, belonging to the Ariosoma genus, was named Ariosoma tamilicum in reference to its discovery in Tamil-speaking coastal regions. The fish was first collected in 2021 by researcher Paramasivam Kodeswaran at the fi shing harbour of Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu. Initial examinations were conducted at the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources Centre in Kerala, followed by further analysis at Gopalpur Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). A team of scientists, including Mohapatra, Thipramalai Thangappan Pillai, Ajit Kumar, Smruti Rekha Acharya, and Paramasivam Kodeswaran, conducted the DNA sequencing and mitochondrial gene analysis.

The genetic study revealed a 13.4 per cent difference in mitochondrial gene sequence, confirming it as a distinct new species. The eel has a bicoloured body, with a dark upper portion and a lighter underside. It possesses a vertebral column with 116–121 bony segments and grows up to 30 centimetres in length. It is non-toxic and is commonly used as poultry feed. These eels are benthic dwellers, living at the bottom of the sea. The full scientific description of Ariosoma tamilicum has been published in the international journal Zootaxa. Further research on the species is in progress, according to Mohapatra of the ZSI.

New Delhi: As many as 225 children from Odisha are among the 2,321 awaiting adoption across India, according to data presented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (W&CD) in Rajya Sabha, Wednesday. Replying to a question in the Upper House, Minister of State for W&CD Savitri Thakur said 2,321 children are awaiting adoption across the country.

Also Read: Tihidi, Pirahat police stations run sans IICs

The highest of such children are in West Bengal (309), followed by Maharashtra (261), Odisha (225), Bihar (205) and Telangana (197), Thakur said. The majority of the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs) prefer to adopt younger children (of normal health and below 6 years of age) in the designated Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System (CARINGS) portal, Thakur said. “If there is availability of lesser number of such children in the adoption pool, the waiting period for PAP may be higher,” she said in a written response. Responding to another question, Thakur said the projected population of all children up to 5 years in India for the year 2021 is 13.75 crore approximately. “However, only 7.49 crore children up to 5 years were enrolled in Anganwadis and registered on Poshan Tracker of the Ministry of W&CD as per the February 2025 data,” the minister said.

A total of 7.25 crore of them were measured on growth parameters of height and weight and 39.09 per cent of them have been found to be stunted, 16.60 per cent have been found to be underweight and 5.35 per cent are said to have been wasted (a child too thin for her height), she said. In response to another question, she said the women’s helpline has been integrated with Emergency Response Support System and so far, they have handled over 2.10 crore calls and assisted over 84.43 lakh women. She added that as of January 2025, 745 fast track special courts, including 404 exclusive POCSO (e-POCSO) courts, are operational in all states and Union Territories. They have disposed of more than 3.06 lakh cases of rape and offences under POCSO Act across the country, the minister said.

Bhubaneswar: The latest census conducted by Odisha’s forest, environment, and climate change department has found 710 dolphins in various waterbodies along the state’s coast.

According to the 2024-25 census report, the dolphins included 498 Humpback, 188 Irrawaddy, 16 Bottlenose, and eight Spinner species across six wildlife divisions of the state.

The highest number of dolphins, 505, were spotted in the mangrove wildlife division in Rajnagar area of Kendrapara, followed by 174 in the Chilika lagoon, the report said.

Smaller populations were found in Berhampur (13), Puri (7), Balasore (7), and Bhadrak (4) wildlife forest divisions, it added.

PTI

Berhampur: Family members of a businessman in Odisha’s Berhampur town donated his body to the government-run MKCG Medical College Hospital here Wednesday for research, an official said.

Donating bodies for medical research is not uncommon in the country, but in this case, the businessman did not pledge his body. It was his family’s decision to hand it over to the medical college for the help of research.

The body of Jammula Satyanarayana (66) was handed over to the college authorities by his family members in the presence of his relatives and friends. Before donating his body, they also donated his two eyes to the eye department of the medical college.

“The donated body will be helpful to the students for their studies and research purposes,” said Head of the Department of Anatomy, Sagar Prusty, who received the body.

The body has been embalmed to protect it from decomposition, he said.

The deceased was the elder brother of Jammula Suresh, an activist who campaigned for blood and organ donation in the city.

“Though he (Satyanarayana) had not pledged to donate his body earlier, we have decided to donate his eyes and body for the benefit of others,” said Suresh.

“Amid the grief, we feel proud as his cadavers will benefit several medical students of the college for their studies and research works,” said J Vamsi, son of the deceased.

Satyanarayana died in the morning of a heart attack while undergoing treatment at the same medical college and hospital here.

Prusty said it was the fourth body donation to the medical college this year, and 26th in the last seven years.

PTI

Bhadrak: Two youths died after their motorcycle collided with a tractor in Odisha’s Bhadrak district Wednesday, police said.

The accident took place near Dohara Balighata on Aradi-Bhadrak state highway 35 under Dhusuri police station limits, they added.

“The impact was so severe that one of the bikers died on the spot while the other succumbed to injuries while being taken to the hospital by locals,” said Santanu Jena, officer in-charge of Dhusuri police station.

The victims were identified as Chandan Jena (20) of Telasadumuka village under Peerhat police station limits in Bhadrak and Shiba Jena (22) of Bajarapat village under Mangalpur police station limits in Jajpur.

The tractor driver fled the scene following the accident.

The cause of the accident has not yet been ascertained. An investigation has been initiated, Jena said.

PTI