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

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

Bhadrak: Ten people were injured following a collision between a stationary tourist bus and a speeding container truck in Odisha’s Bhadrak district on Saturday, police said.

The incident occurred on a stretch of National Highway-16 in the Bhandaripokhari area.

The bus, heading to Puri, had halted near Chatabara to change a punctured tyre when the container truck rammed into it from behind, said Mahaprasad Nayak, inspector-in-charge of Bhandaripokhari police station.

The injured were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) for treatment, he said.

Later, four of them were shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, the officer added.

PTI

Bhubaneswar: The state Forest, Environment and Climate Change department has decided to observe the month of March as ‘Olive Ridley Turtle and Marine Mammal Awareness Month,’ announced the office of PCCF (Wildlife) here Friday.

The initiative, led by the office of the PCCF (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, will span across key coastal divisions of Berhampur, Chilika, Puri, Rajnagar, Bhadrak, and Balasore.

It will engage local communities, fishermen, students, researchers, scientists, NGOs, and conservationists in a collective effort to safeguard the state’s rich marine biodiversity, said PCCF Wildife Prem Kumar Jha.

“By fostering community-driven conservation efforts and engaging key stakeholders, this initiative represents a significant step in ensuring the long-term survival of Olive Ridley Turtles and marine mammals along Odisha’s coastline.

Through collaborative action, scientific engagement, and public awareness, Odisha reaffirms its position as a leader in marine biodiversity conservation,” Jha added.

The announcement follows a record-breaking mass nesting event of Olive Ridley Turtles, with 698,718 turtles nesting along the coast till February 23, 2025, surpassing the previous year’s record of 637,000, claimed the data compiled by the Forest department.

According to the Forest officials, the awareness month will feature a series of public outreach campaigns, digital interactive sessions, and expert-led workshops to educate and engage the targeted stakeholders.

Also Read: FSSAI conducts training for street food vendors

“Beach rallies will promote pollution-free coastal habitats and safe by-catch techniques, while fishermen training programmes will focus on by-catch reduction, sustainable fishing practices, and the implementation of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) to mitigate accidental entanglements,” said an officer.

PNN

Bhadrak: A clash between two families over a land dispute claimed the life of a person and left three others critically injured in Odisha’s Bhadrak district Wednesday, police said.

The incident took place at Chhatrapada village under Pirahat police station limits in the district.

According to police, a verbal duel between the families of Abani Nayak and Amulya Nayak soon turned violent. “Abani allegedly died on the spot after being attacked by members of Amulya’s family, while three members of Amulya’s family sustained critical injuries in the fight,” police said.

Following the incident, Abani’s wife Sarojini lodged a complaint at Pirahat police station, alleging that Amulya’s family members were responsible for her husband’s death, said sub-inspector Champabati Mohanty, who is the investigation officer for the case.

Upon receiving information, a police team reached the village and launched a probe.

“Abani’s body was sent for post-mortem, while the injured were rushed to a hospital for treatment,” Mohanty said.

PTI

Basudevpur: In a shocking incident, a 65-year-old man was beaten to death by his son in Sasamalgheri village under Kasia Marine police station in Basudevpur block of Bhadrak district after the former refused to give him some money Tuesday.

The deceased was identified as Dukhiram Mandal and the accused as Baidhar Mandal, 28. According to reports, Dukhiram had given some money to Baidhar a few days ago as demanded by the latter. However, the accused son once again demanded more money Monday which was turned down by Dukhiram.

Finding no other option, Baidhar turned to his mother, who also refused to give him any money. Frustrated over the denials, Baidhar started an argument with his father Tuesday afternoon which further escalated into a major quarrel. Baidhar’s anger reached its peak when he attacked Dukhiram with a shovel, leaving him severely injured and unconscious. Dukhiram was rushed to Basudevpur hospital where he succumbed to the injuries around 2pm Tuesday.

Also Read: Nepali students fear returning to KIIT campus after row over student’s death

As per a written complaint lodged by Anukul Mandal, another son of the deceased, a case (24/25) was registered at Kasia Marine police station. The police reached the village and started an investigation. “We have nabbed Baidhar from the village and taken him into custody for interrogation,” Kasia Marine PS IIC Sabitri Panda said.

PNN

Bhadrak: Two minor boys drowned in a village pond Sunday morning while playing near it in Odisha’s Bhadrak district.

The incident took place at around 10am at Radhaballavpur village, under the jurisdiction of Basudevpur police station.

Police identified the deceased as 13-year-old Jyotirmaya Behera, son of Satyaban Behera, and 17-year-old Rajendra Behera, son of Kanhu Behera.

According to police, the boys were playing near the pond when they accidentally slipped and fell. Hearing their cries for help, locals rushed to rescue them.

While one of the boys was pulled out from the pond by the locals, the other was retrieved by fire service officials.

Both were taken to Basudevpur Hospital, where doctors declared them dead on arrival, inspector-in-charge (IIC) of Basudevpur police station Lopamudra Nayak said.

Police have sent the bodies to Bhadrak District Hospital for post mortem.

PTI

Bhandaripokhari: A sixth-century idol of Lord Vasudeva was discovered Saturday at Malda village under Bhandaripokhari block in Bhadrak district.

According to sources, Jitendra Samal of the village had brought sand for construction work. He noticed an idol inside the sand Friday afternoon and kept it safely at home.

Upon receiving the news, INTACH member Bishwambar Raut visited his house. In the presence of Samiti member Aritanjali Samal and scholar Ramachandra Mohanty, the idol was handed over for preservation at the Sholampur Buddhist Monastery Museum.

Also Read: Youth beats father to death with lathi

The idol, made of khondalite stone, stands one foot tall. Renowned archaeologist Dr Sunil Pattnaik stated that it is a rare sixth-century artefact. The idol features four arms holding a discus (chakra), mace (gada), water pot (kamandala), and lotus (padma).

PNN

Dhamnagar: A five-day Winter Festival 2025 and Pallishree Mela will begin February 10 at Jaynagar Padia in Dhamnagar block of Bhadrak district. In preparation for the event, the district administration held a press conference at the Dhamnagar block conference hall Saturday at 4pm.

Read Also: 6th-century idol discovered in Bhadrak

The press meet was chaired by former tehsildar Deepak Kumar Das, with the presence of Sub-Collector Saurabh Chakraborty, BDO Banabihari Dinda, Minister’s representative Ashok Kumar Puhan, MP’s representative Manoj Mallik, and former Zilla Parishad member Ranjita Swain. The festival will feature renowned artists, vocalists, and film stars from across Odisha. Distinguished guests from the state will participate over the five days. The Pallishree Mela will host 30 stalls from within and outside the state and another 30 from the district only.

PNN

Bhandaripokhari: A sixth-century idol of Lord Vasudeva was discovered Saturday at Malda village under Bhandaripokhari block in Bhadrak district.

According to sources, local resident Jitendra Samal had brought sand for construction work. He noticed an idol inside the sand Friday afternoon and kept it safely at home. Upon receiving the news, INTACH member Bishwambar Raut visited his house. In the presence of Samiti member Aritanjali Samal and scholar Ramachandra Mohanty, the idol was handed over for preservation at the Sholampur Buddhist Monastery Museum.

Read Also: Dhamnagar winter fest, Pallishree Mela from Feb 10  

The idol, made of khondalite stone, stands one foot tall. Renowned archaeologist Dr Sunil Pattnaik stated that it is a rare sixth century artefact. The idol features four arms holding a discus (chakra), mace (gada), water pot (kamandala), and lotus (padma).

PNN

Bhadrak: Two bike-borne miscreants snatched a gold chain from a woman police inspector at a vegetable market in Odisha’s Bhadrak town, an officer said Wednesday.

The miscreants snatched the gold chain from police inspector Monalisa Kar when she was in plain clothes and buying vegetables in the market Tuesday evening, the officer said.

As Kar raised an alarm, local people chased the miscreants and apprehended one of the culprits, while the other fled with the stolen gold chain.

Bhadrak Town police station Inspector in charge (IIC) Ajay Sudarshan Bage said the suspect is being interrogated and an attempt is being made to nab the other accused.

PTI

Bhadrak: The District Collector of Bhadrak, Dilip Routrai, has claimed that he found irregularities at a paddy procurement centre in Dhamnagar block after he went there in the guise of a farmer.

A show-cause notice has been issued to the officer concerned, Routrai told reporters.

Dressed in casual attire and sporting a face mask, Routrai parked his vehicle at a distance and walked to the Katasahi mandi in Bhadrak district Saturday, he said.

The Collector said he was prompted to take the step following allegations of ‘katni-chhatni’ – undue reduction of paddy prices upon grain quality assessment.

Read Also: Odisha govt enhances paddy procurement target to 77 lakh MT

To verify the charges, Routrai attempted to sell paddy at the mandi, but the cooperative official in charge informed him that almost 8 kg of paddy would be deducted as wastage.

“Repeated allegations of ‘katni-chhatni’ by farmers compelled me to go in disguise to know the truth,” he said. Routrai also appealed to all paddy purchasing officers to refrain from “such irregularities”.

“Strong action would be taken against them if found guilty of such practices,” he added.

PNN

Basudevpur: The police Saturday detained six persons who were allegedly trying to convert residents of Parapokhari village, under the jurisdiction of Kasia Marine police station in Bhadrak district, into Christian faith.

Sabitri Panda, officer-in-charge (IIC) of Kasia Marine police station said that a case had been registered against the six persons following complaint by a villager. She said investigations are underway to fi nd out the veracity of allegations pertaining to religious conversation attempts. “Further inquiries are continuing to determine the details of the incident,” she said.

Meanwhile, reports said that the alleged attempt to spread Christian faith and conversion by a group of people evoked strong opposition from the villagers. According to reports, one Shiba Jena from Parapokhari village – along with six others from Bhubaneswar who belong to Christian community – had organised a religious gathering on his son’s 21st day ceremony. It included prayers and other Christian rituals.

Also Read: Odisha: Bamboo artisans struggle for survival

During the conduct of the event, they allegedly appealed to the villagers to embrace Christianity. This invited strong disapproval from the villagers, with some of them questioning the purpose of ‘outsiders’ preaching another faith within their community. The situation led to a standoff during which the group was detained and handed over to the Kasia Marine police at around 8 pm. The police took the six persons for questioning. Later, a written complaint was lodged by Susanta Kumar Raut, a resident of Parapokhari.

PNN

Bhadrak: A 26-year-old man, his brother-in-law and the driver of the ambulance on which they were taking back the body of his deceased father from hospital were killed Saturday in Odisha’s Bhadrak district after the vehicle was hit by a dumper from behind, said police.

The accident took place on National Highway 16 near Maitapur, about 16 km away from Bhadrak town. The deceased have been identified as Sanjay Jena (26), his brother-in-law Sudhansu Jena (42), and ambulance driver Dillip Singh (43). Sanjay’s mother, Sabitri Jena, sustained critical injuries and was admitted to Bhogarai hospital for treatment.

According to reports, the family was transporting the body of Dibakar Jena, Sanjay’s father, from SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, where he had passed away Friday night while undergoing treatment. The accident took place as they were returning to their native village Palasia in the Bhogarai police station area.

Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident.

PTI

Bhadrak: Goods worth lakhs of rupees were gutted in a fire that broke out at an electronics shop in Bhadrak’s Dhusuri market, a source said Thursday.

According to the source, the shop owner Milu Mallick closed the outlet Wednesday night. However, after some time, locals noticed the shop engulfed in fire.

Locals tried to douse the flames, but the fire could not be contained. By the time the personnel from Fire Services department reached the spot, the shop was completely gutted, the source added.

Locals have long been advocating for the establishment of a fire station in Sanalpur area near Dhusuri. However, their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

Also Read : Los Angeles engulfed by new wildfire, burning over 8,000 acres

PNN

Bhadrak: A man was killed allegedly by his wife and son following a family dispute in Odisha’s Bhadrak district, police said Thursday.

The incident took place at Joragadia village. The deceased was identified as Satyasundar Nayak. He was found lying in a pool of blood with severe injuries on his body Thursday, said inspector-in-charge (IIC) of Bhadrak rural police station, Sanghamitra Mohanty.

According to local people, Nayak’s wife and son allegedly locked the room from outside before fleeing the village. Their sudden disappearance raised suspicions.

“The wife and son are currently absconding, and efforts are underway to trace their whereabouts,” Mohanty said.

Read Also: Man held for duping woman of over Rs 3 lakh on pretext of marriage

PTI

Chandbali: Kanika Sands Island, located near the Dhamra estuary in Bhadrak district, has witnessed the hoisting of the national flag, marking a significant event amid the ongoing debate over its ownership.

This action came Saturday after a coordinated effort involving the Indian Navy, state government officials, the Marine police, and local stakeholders, including the Sagar Mitra community, under the joint initiative of the Central and the state governments.

The island, part of Bay of Bengal, has been a subject of neglect and ambiguity for years. Information about the island’s status has reached the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, prompting them to direct local authorities to gather further details and report to the government. This step is part of ongoing efforts to bring the island under government control and eventually develop it for public benefit.

The hoisting of the national flag, which took place at Kanika Island was attended by various officials, including local police personnel and officers from the Indian Navy. Among those present were Krushna Chandra Jani, IIC, Dhamra Marine police station, and other notable figures, such as Sagar Mitra members Shrikrushna Behera, Bijay Majhi, and Ajay Behera.

Read Also: Farmer dies of electrocution in Odisha’s Bhadrak district

The ceremony also included the installation of signboards featuring photographs of the Prime Minister of India and Chief Minister, symbolising the signifi cance of the occasion. The Dhamra Marine PS IIC, Jani, mentioned that the national flag would also be hoisted here on the occasion of Republic Day.

A preparatory drill was conducted beforehand at the site. Additionally, the hoisting of the national flag is aimed at alerting people not to settle on or encroach upon the island.

Kanika Island, which spans roughly 1,200 acres, is an uninhabited area, predominantly covered by saline forests over 450 acres of land. In 1987, it was included in a larger survey along with other nearby islands in Dhamra region. However, due to various unresolved issues, it was not recorded in the land records of Chandbali tehsil.

The island has been at the centre of a territorial dispute between the governments of West Bengal and Odisha since 2005 when the Kolkata Port Trust expanded its jurisdiction.

Despite a Supreme Court ruling in 2013 that temporarily resolved some of the issues, the land records remain unsettled to this day. Locals demand that the state government take necessary action to bring the island into the revenue records.

PNN

Bhadrak: A farmer was electrocuted to death after coming in contact with a live electric wire in Odisha’s Bhadrak district Friday, police said.

The deceased farmer was identified as Pramod Das, a resident of Baligaon Narasinghpur village under the jurisdiction of the Chandbali police station.

A fire broke out after a spark as soon as Das came in contact with the live wire, which snapped and fell on a piece of farmland, resulting in the death of the farmer and damage to crops spread over nearly two acres of land, a source said.

Fire department personnel went to the spot and extinguished the flames, a police officer said.

Angry farmers, mostly residents of the village, expressed their outrage against the “negligence” of the electricity department, blaming it for the farmer’s death.

They also placed the body in front of the Chandbali grid station demanding justice, he said.

Some farmers also blocked the Chandbali road, leading to disruption in traffic movement.

The family of the deceased sought adequate compensation both for the loss of life and the damage to the crop.

Adequate police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order there, the Inspector-in-Charge of Chandbali police station, Panchanan Mohanty, said.

PTI

Bhadrak: Ancient sculptures, including remnants of Shaiva and Buddhist deities, have been found along the banks of the Baitarani River in Odisha’s Bhadrak district, researchers said.

The sculptures were found near a village called Maninathpur in the Bhandaripokhari block of the district earlier this week.

The researchers found 18 ancient sculptures, including rare Shaiva and Buddhist deities, dating back to the 6th or 7th century Common Era (CE).

These artefacts include intricately carved miniature temples and ‘argha stupas’, they said.

A local youth, Bibekananda, stumbled upon a statue during his morning walk and promptly informed the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) members and young researcher Biswambhar Raut.

Raut inspected the area and identified 18 ancient sculptures and small temples, scattered across the site.

The sculptures depict Shaiva deities like Shiva, Parvati, and Ganesh, and Buddhist icons such as Buddha, Tara, and Padmapani.

Also Read | 827-year-old inscription found at Shiva temple in Maduthuru

The sculptures were handed over to the Buddhist Vihara Museum for preservation and display.

“After getting information about the findings, we informed the INTACH members, after which they stored the ancient sculptures in the museum,” the District Culture Officer of Bhadrak, Tanuja Sirka Singh, said.

After inspecting the site, renowned archaeologist Sunil Pattnaik confirmed the significance of the artefacts, identifying them as Shaiva and Buddhist sculptures crafted from Khondalite stone, dating to the 6th–8th centuries CE.

Pattnaik highlighted the artistic excellence of the sculptures of Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha, Buddha, Padmapani, Tara, Bhairava, and dancing figures.

These artefacts, with some miniature temples reaching a height of 4.5 feet, are invaluable cultural and religious symbols of Shaiva and Buddhist heritage.

The findings are expected to shed light on the syncretic cultural heritage of the region and attract further attention from researchers and historians, the researchers said.

PTI

Bhadrak: The main accused in the incident of attack on police and a magistrate during an unauthorised rally in Odisha’s Bhadrak town September 27, has been arrested, an officer said Tuesday.

A team led by Additional Superintendent of Police of Bhadrak district Anshuman Dwibedi arrested the prime accused from Bhadrak town almost three months after the incident.

According to Dwibedi, the main accused and a group of people had organised a rally near Santhia Bridge without prior permission from the administration.

The group resorted to violence, setting tyres on fire and blocking the police from performing their duties, he said.

The mob had also vandalised government vehicles and resorted to pelting the police with stones when the personnel intervened to stop the unauthorised rally, resulting in injuries to the Bhadrak Tehsildar, who was on duty as a magistrate and two police officers, including a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), he said.

Following the incident, multiple complaints were filed against him at Saharanchal and Purunabazar police stations.

He had been absconding since the incident, the police officer said.

When the accused reached a local court on Monday to seek bail in an unrelated case, the police reached the spot and arrested him, he said.

PTI