City Journalists protest against Mumbai gang-rape

Rourkela: Vedio&PhotoJournalists of the city covering black clothes on their mouth staged silent protest against the brutal gang-rape of a 23-year-old photojournalist in Mumbai and marched out a rally from Exibition ground to Ram Mandir square here on Sunday demanding strict action against the culprits.

Journalists presented a memorandum to the Governor seeking his interference to provide a safer work place for journalists in the State as well as in the country. Talking about the heinous incident that happened to the photojournalist in Mumbai and condemning it, they demanded that the culprits should be given exemplary punishment within a specified time-frame.

It is a matter of serious concern that India is becoming known as a country where people do not know how to respect a woman, they added saying stringent laws are to be made to avoid such incidents in the future.

Further, Journalists asked the government to take appropriate measures to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in future.

Journalists from different organizations, both from print and electronic media, participated in the protest.

Now-a-days, the incidents of attack on women irrespective of age, caste, creed and profession are increasing and the administration is not in a position to control the things, said a photojournalist requesting the State government to take bold steps and make a separate Act that would protect the working women in particular and others at large and also save the dignity of women.

The team from Jharkhand including teenage girl Nirmala Tapno that chased away wild jumbos to the forest

Rourkela:  Residents of Rourkela heaved a sigh of relief as the herd of eleven elephants, which had created panic following their entry into the steel city since last two days, was driven out on Sunday night.The herd was finally left in the jungles of North Chirobeda in Saranda, from where they purportedly came.On Saturday night about two hundred people with the help of crackers, fire sticks and drum beats etc. drove the elephants away towards Saranda forest but failed to send them permanently.The jumbos again came back towards Rourkela after crossing Bisra railway track, about 25 km from Rourkela city. Lastly, they settled at Durgapur hills, on the outskirts of the city.

On Sunday night at around 9.30 pm, again 200 people including forest officials, a ten member team to control elephants and villagers drove away the elephant herd from Durgapur hill with fire stick and left the elephants in North Chirobeda forest in Saranda jungle.

During the operation, one Marianas Toppo and her daughter Nirmala Toppo who were hired by forest officials reportedly led the operation and showed courage and their skills to leave the elephant herd in the forest.

“We are happy that no untoward incident occurred during our drive away operation except the jumbos damaged three huts,” said Sanjit Kumar, DFO, Rourkela.

On Saturday wee hours the herd of eleven elephants had strayed into the city triggering panic among the residents.

Crime Branch raids Saradha Group’s Balasore office & Case registered against Artha Tatwa Group.

Balasore: The Crime Branch team investigating into the Saradha chit fund scam has started investigations in the company’s branch office in Balasore after breaking the lock of the office. The office was locked up for the past few days.

The lock on the office of the ‘Saradha Realty India’ was broken in the presence of the local Magistrate this morning. Crime Branch officials have begun their raid in the office.

Similarly, the investigating team has also broken the lock to the sales counter of the grocery store of the company situated near the office.

The Commercial Tax Officer of the Vigilance Wing was also present during the raid.

State Crime Branch today broke into the locked Balasore office of Kolkata-based Saradha Group, which is embroiled in the Rs 20,000-crore chit fund fraud, and seized some computers and files.

The seizures are expected to further uncover the financial company’s dubious activities in the State.

Meanwhile, the name of one Gobinda Prasad Giri of Balasore district’s Jaleswar area has come out as the one who played a major role in spreading the fraudulent company’s business in the district as well as Sambalpur, where Saradha had acquired large chunks of land.

While examining papers of vario

us companies belonging to Sudipta Sen, the disgraced chairman of Saradha Group, investigators reportedly found Giri to be a director in a host of companies along with Debjani Mukherjee, one of the prime accused in the case.

Probe revealed Giri was the director of 77 companies including the Group’s flagship firm Saradha Realty.

Interestingly, Giri was also a director of at least 18 companies where Debjani Mukherjee held the post of a director as well. Investigators feel that all of these companies – outside the Saradha banner – were used to siphon off money and keep regulators off the track.

Detailed investigations into the Saradha books have started throwing up new names as well.

Balasore: Close on the heels of Chit Fund fraud by Kolkata based Saradha Group that rocked the region recently, hundreds of investors of Artha Tatwa Group on Monday lodged a complaint against its managing director and other officials for allegedly duping crores of public money.

The investors under the banner of Punji Nibesakari Sangha led by Jagannath Behera filed compliant against AT Group’s CMD Pradip Sethi, Sales Director Manoj Pattnaik, Director Jagabandhu Panda and Assistant Director Manindra Parmanik with Sahadevkhunta police seeking their immediate arrest.

They alleged the AT Group which started its operation in 2008 had collected nearly Rs 100 Crore from Balasore district alone. Though the company initially provided 3 percent dividend per month to senior citizens against Rs 1 lakh deposit, it was 2 percent for general.

“It however stopped paying the money since July last year. When we approached the company officials, they tried to convince us and agreed to start payments from November onwards which too they could not adhere to. We were later pacified as the company through a newspaper advertisement declared that it would settle down the investments soon. Though four months have passed since, none’s account has been settled,” Behera said.

Sex racket busted, four arrested

Sex racket busted, four arrested

Rourkela: Chhend policemen have busted a sex racket here today. Four accused in the case have been arrested and forwarded to the Court.

Acting on a tip off, Chhend policemen conducted raid in the house of Mukesh Gupta (29), the main accused, in the wee hours yesterday. Mukesh Gupta, a resident of Phase-II Qr.No.152 in Kalinga Vihar area in Chhend Colony who ran a travel agency, allegedly also ran a sex racket in his residence. 

Police arrested Gupta and three others including a woman. The arrested men have been identified as Ambit Panda (44) and Amit Prasad (30), resident of LCR-134 and LCR-139 of Chhend area respectively.

Police arrested all the four accused and have seized a four-wheeler from them in the case.

Tardy work of Jhirpani Bridge riles locals

Tardy work of Jhirpani Bridge riles locals

Rourkela: Scores of villages under Nuagaon block in Sundargarh district are facing a lot of inconveniences in communication front as Jhirpani Bridge over Koel river remains incomplete even though its work was started three years ago.

Thousands of people living across the river have to take a roundabout way via Bisra block or Kuarmunda to come to Rourkela. They have to travel 30 km more via Bisra block or 40 km via Kuarmunda block.

The foundation stone for the bridge was laid by MP Sundargarh Jual Oram. Now only 60 per cent of work has been completed.

On completion of bridge over the river, 15 km road distance can be reduced for the commuters. Further they will get greater advantages such as reducing extra expenses on petrol, direct marketing of vegetables, getting better medical facilities, education and many more.

Once completed, the bridge will facilitate better communication for villagers of Mitkundri, Koilsutar, Kerketta, Lindra, Khutgaon, Bispur, Madhupur, Limda, Nuagaon, Jhirpani and several other villages.

The bridge will also help security forces take quick action against Maoists. Sushil Kumar Kindo, Zilla Parishad Member and a social activist said farmers are worst affected by the absence of the bridge. With communication remaining almost cut off from Rourkela, farmer shave to sell their vegetables at throw away price to middlemen.  

People depend upon Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH) and Ispat General Hospital (IGH) for healthcare. Patients needing immediate treatment are not rushed to hospital in the absence of a bridge, Kindo added.

Locals alleged that the authorities are callous about expeditious work for the bridge despite repeated appeals. Angry over tardy progress of the work, the locals threatened to agitate if the bridge projects work is not expedited.

Raghunath Majhi, a resident of Mitkundri informed that a bamboo bridge has been laid and people pay use fee for communication on this bridge. Around 1000 people travel on it every day and the owner used to collect Rs. 5 per person for to and fro. For cycle and bike, Rs. 10 and Rs. 20 respectively have been collected from the travelers. Locals, college and school students usually cross the bamboo bridge and used to pay on monthly and yearly basis.

After completion of bridge, commuters will be free from paying money regularly, Majhi informed. And the bamboo bridge only serves commuters in dry seasons.

Reliable sources said the Public Works Department (PWD), Rourkela, started work in 2010. “It was scheduled to be completed by March, 2014. The authorities blame the delay of the bridge on Maoist menace and deadline was extended to March, 2015,” they added.

Rs. 7 crore out of an estimated cost of Rs. 12.38 crore has already been spent for 60 per cent work, according to PWD Engineer Umesh Mishra. He added that contract of Jhirpani Bridge work was awarded to Rajlakshmi Construction, Cuttack. By the March 2015 end, it would be open for commuters to use the bridge, he added. 

Steel Joint Secretary U P Singh visits RSP

Steel Joint Secretary U P Singh visits RSP

Rourkela: Joint Secretary (Steel), Government of India U P Singh, accompanied by his wife Archana Singh today arrived here in the Steel City on a three-day visit.

Singh visited the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP). On arrival at the airstrip here, G S Prasad, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), RSP, Manjari Prasad, President, Deepika Mahila Sanghati, S N Roy, ED (Works), Dipankar Basu, ED (P&A), R K Nehru, ED (MM), M K Das, ED (Projects), S K Acharya, ED (Projects), J Singh, DIG (CISF) and other senior officers of RSP and vice presidents of Deepika Mahila Sanghati, accorded a warm welcome to Singh and his wife.

Singh, along with Prasad and other senior officers, visited various project sites of RSP including the New Raw Material Handling Plant, New Blast Furnace-5, New Caster, New Coke Ovens Battery-6 and the New Plate Mill. In each of these units Singh took a keen interest on the progress of the projects.

A presentation was made on the performance of the Plant on various fronts as well as future plans in a meeting at CEO’s Conference hall with the Joint Secretary (Steel) along with the CEO and other senior officers.

Singh also visited Beginner’s Academy, a school runs by Deepika Mahila Sanghati, and ‘Home and Hope’, an institution for the mentally challenged patronised by RSP and distributed fruits among the students. Manjari Prasad and other office bearers were present on the occasion. Mrs. Singh visited Deepika Mahila Jagriti Sansthan, where she interacted with the trainees of the Deepika Hast Kargha Centre as well as other women working in various units of the Sansthan.

HISTORY OF BALASORE

Balasore district was part of the ancient Kalinga which later became a territory of Toshala or Utkal, till the death of Mukunda Dev. It was annexed by Moghuls in 1568 and remained as a part of their suzerainty up to the middle of eighteenth century, to be precised up to 1750-51.Then the Marahattas occupied this part of Odisha and it became a part of the dominion of the Marahatta Rajas of Nagpur.The East India Company ceded this part through a treaty called treaty of Deogaon in 1803 and it became a part of Bengal Presidency up to 1912.But the first English Settlement came into existence in Balasore region in 1634 while Sahajahan was the emperor at Delhi. The first of English factories was established in this region in 1640.During this period Dutch and Danish settlements were also founded inthis region. Balasore as a separate district was created in October,1828 while it was in the Bengal Presidency.With the creation of Bihar province,Odisha was diverted along with Balasore district from Bengal to Bihar But with the creation of Odisha as a separate State on 1st April,1936 Balasore became an integral part of Odisha State.The national movement of independence surged ahead with the visit of Mahatma Gandhi in 1921. Similarly Praja Andolan was initiated against the ruler of Nilagiri State.The state of Nilagiri merged with state of Odisha in January,1948 and became a part of Balasore district.In 3rd April,1993 Bhadrak Sub-division became a separate district and from this day Balasore remains a district of Odisha with two Sub-divisions namely Balasore and Nilagiri having 7 Tahasils namely Balasore, Soro, Simulia, Nilagiri, Jaleswar, Basta & Baliapal and 12 Blocks namely Bhograi, Jaleswar, Baliapal, Basta, Balasore, Remuna, Nilagiri, Oupada, Khaira, Soro & Bahanaga. The name of the district is being derived from the name of the town, which is old and important. The name Balasore is recognised from the Persian word BALA-E-SHORE which means “TOWN IN THE SEA”. The historical legend ascribes that the district has been named as per the LORD BANESHWAR (LORD SHIVA) of the town., which subsequently changed to Balasore during MUGHUL Rules.

	The History of Balasore District is the amalgamation of several cultures and civilizations colonized the region for a couple of years. Balasore was a part of ancient Kalinga, which later came under the jurisdiction of Toshala or Utkal till the death of Mukunda Deva. The history of Balasore witnessed a quick succession of several dynasties in its bosom.n As far as the history of Balasore District is concerned, there was a constant strife among the different rulers over the entire tract of the District.When the power of the indigenous Hindu kings falls short to retain their kingdom with a strong foundation, the Mughals and the realm of Balasore District was passed in the hands of Marhatta Rajas of Nagpur. Finally during the British expedition in India, the absolute political power came in the hands of the British Raj.
The East India Company ceded Balasore District in 1803, through a treaty called as The Treaty of Deogaon and then it became a part of Bengal Presidency up to the year 1912. However, the first English settlement came into existence in Balasore region in 1634, while Sahajahan was the emperor at Delhi and the first of the English factories was established in this region in 1640. During this period, Dutch and Danish settlements were also founded in this region. Balasore, as a separate District was created in October 1828, while it was under Bengal Presidency. With the creation of Odisha as a separate state on 1st April 1936, Balasore became an integral part of Odisha State.		Nilagiri Temple
The state of Nilagiri merged with the state of Odisha in January 1948 and then it became a part of Balasore District. On 3 April 1993, Bhadrak sub-division became a separate District and from this day onwards, Balasore remains a district of Odisha with two sub-divisions namely Balasore and Nilagiri.
Chandaneswar Temple	Balasore also gets its name from the Persian word Bala–e–Shore, meaning ‘Town in the sea’. Historical legend ascribes the naming of this District as per Lord Baneshwar (Lord Shiva) of the town, which subsequently changed to Balasore during the Mughul rule.There are many historical monuments in the Balasore District. Some of the major monuments in Balasore District includes the rich sculptural remains found in Ayodhya. The ruin of the old Buddhist monastery and temple is there in Kupali in Balasore District. Some of the ruined forts at the Jayachandi forests in Raibania are also there in the District. The major religious monument found in the District is the Lord Chandaneswar Shrine.