another farmer commited suicide in Bolangir

Yet another debt-ridden farmer committed suicide in Keseipali village under Agalpur block of Bolangir district on Thursday. This is 8^th such incident in a row in western Orissa alone in the current kharif session. The recent victim is identified as Baldev Barik (35) of Keseipali village of Bolangir district. He was rushed to Bolangir hospital where doctors declare him dead. Police registered a case and sent the body for autopsy. This was 8^th farmers of western Orissa to die committing suicide in the current Kharif session

Sources said, deceased Baldev Barik (35) of Keseipali village was a small farmer of the village having only one and half acres of cultivable land of his own. But taking loan from the local cooperative society he cultivated 5 acres of land belongs to other villagers on contract basis. He was having 2 sons and one daughter within 1-6 years of age group. On Thursday early morning he went to his field to see the paddy. Earlier part of his paddy got destroyed due to swarm insects but he managed to kill it by spraying pesticide. But to his bad luck crop again got damaged with the attack of Chakada poka (another type-insect). He could not hold his patience and consumed pesticide to kill self. He informed his family about it.. He was soon taken to Loisingha Hospital and later to Bolangir hospital where he was declared dead. “We brought him to the Loisingha PHC soon he told about consumption of poison, later we took him to the Bolangir where doctors declared him dead”, one of his family members told. “He has taken a loan of Rs.10 thousand from the local cooperative society. So he might have taken such a step to avoid himself from the debt burden”, he added.

Looking to the seriousness of the case, police rushed to the hospital and recovered the dead body Police registered an unnatural death case and handed over the body to his family member on Sunday after conducting autopsy. “We registered a case and handed over the body to his family after autopsy was over”, a senior police officer of the district told.

On the other hand farmers of the district demanded compensation of Rs.5 lakhs to the deceased family and to declare Bolangir as draught hit district. A delegation of farmer led by Sudhir Parichha met the collector and handed over a memorandum to her in support of their demands.

“I have received memorandum from the farmers. I will recommend the government in support of their demand”, collector (Bolangir) Aswasti S told. “However Investigation is on to know the exact cause of committing suicide. Once I receive the report I will send it to the government for the compensation to the deceased family”, Ms Aswasti Told.

It may be mentioned here that on August 12th Pandab Bhoi (38) in Rengali block, on 4th Oct Gourahari Patra (48) in Lakhanpur block, on 7th Oct. Bidyadhar Bagh (40) in Rengali block committed suicide by consuming pesticide. On 18th Oct Angad Barik (65) in Jamenkira block committed suicide by coming under a running train. Like wise Kusha Majhi of Tarbode (Nuapara), Maharshee Narang of Hemgir (Sundergarh) and Kartik Mahakud (60) of Karnapali village (Subarnapur) have committed for the same cause. Another 3 farmers from coastal and southern Orissa had committed suicide over the past on week

VSS medical celebrates golden jubilee

Veer Surendra Sai Medical College is going to celebrate 5day long festival on the eve of its golden jubilee year that begins from Friday. But even after 50 years the institution has hardly fulfill the purpose behind its establishment. When the college hospital is only of its kind in the region, rotten equipments and shortage of doctors and technicians cause to close down several important departments round the year. Encroachment of land belongs to the college and nuisance by anti-socials bring a bad atmosphere inside the hospital. While the college authority blames the administration for not providing timely support to deal with the situation, few teachers feel college authority is responsible for the present situation.

“We know the encroachments are not made over night. Everybody is aware on it. But college authority does not take any action to prevent the encroachment. Now when situation has become worst, administration is reluctant to evict them as they are backed by few political parties. Most of the land belongs to the institution has been under illegal occupation. But for this we just can not blame the administration when college authority is equally responsible for not preventing them at the initial stage”, associate professor of VSS Medical college Dr. Chittaranjan Kar said.

Sources said, the VSS Medical College Hospital that was set up in Burla in 1959, is only health care center of its kind in the region on which people of entire western Orissa and part of the Chhatisgarh have been depending since its inception. However wrong policy and poor management coupled with shortage of doctors has left the patients to switch over to other places during emergency. Super specialist departments like Neuro-surgery, Urology, Nephrology and Skin VD are run with a single doctor and when the doctor goes on leave the department comes to close down.

“We are trying our level best to provide all possible heath care to the patients. But some times we fail because of some unavoidable circumstances. Several equipments need to replace and certain new machines are to be installed, but due to prevailing process and government’s policy things are going up slowly. However we are hopeful for a change in near future”, the superintendent of the VSS Medical college hospital Dr. Gunasagar Das told.

However he does not express full-satisfaction over the services available in the hospital at present. “We do not have sufficient teaching and non-teaching staff. Neither have we had adequate equipment still we are trying to provide beat medical services to our patients. However I am not fully satisfy over the provision”, Dr.Das told.

Dr. Das reveled that the golden Jubilee function is not just a function for fanfare and merrymaking but it is a time for retrospect the happening of last 50 years and to make further development of the intuition. “We have decided to celebrate the function to retrospect the past. We know the medical college and hospital is one of the best institutions of the country. Many famous doctors of the country are the alumni of the college. MRI and Kath lab along with few sophisticated equipments are going to install in the college. So I think things will improve soon”, Dr. Das told.

On the other hand, the college authority is not sure whether the administration is fully cooperative on the college affairs to evict the encroachment in the golden Jubilee year. We are going to construct golden jubilee gates on both side of the college. We are also planning to construct a golden jubilee guest house to commemorate 50 years. But this is possible only after the eviction of encroachment. So we are not sure when we get our land freed from the encroachment. We have approached the district administration on several occasions,” principal of the VSS medical College and chairman of the golden Jubilee celebration committee Prof Jenet Khalkho told

sexual exploitation charges against the swami of Kriyayog ashram

The dispute in Kriyayog Ashram of Rairakhol was exploded on Saturday when a tribal lady leveled charges of sexual exploitation against its managing head, Swami Kalikananda. She also demanded parenthood of a child fathered by the Swami. The Rairakhol police registered a case against the swami basing on the complaint of the lady.

“We have registered a case against Swami Kalikanada Giri basing on the complaint of Tilottama Mirdha. Investigation is on. However we have not yet arrested the accused as he is not available in Rairakhol” additional SP Labakanta Rana told. “Since it is a case u/s 3 sc/st act SDPO (Rairakhol) has been assigned for investigation”, Mr. Rana added.

Sources said, a tribal lady Tillottama Mirdha was working in the Rairakhol based Kriyayog Ashram more than a decade back. She was working in the Kitchen of the Ashram where she was sexually exploited by Swami Kalikananda few years ago. When she objected the act of swami she was threatened and assured to get her marred incase she maintains secrecy. Tillottama then succumbed to his lust and swami fathered her 2 children. But swami managed to abort one through herbal medicines but unable to kill the last one because she left the Ashram.

“Swami had assured to get me married. So I did not express it before any one. But now I need fatherhood of my child before she grown up”, Tilottama alleged while speaking to press on Saturday with the help of Justice Party of India.

“But we have taken up the issue to provide justice to a poor tribal lady. Party has nothing to do with the dispute of the Ashram’, Sanjay Kumar Sahu, the vice president of the Justice party of India told.

On the other hand the head of Kriyayog Swami Sankarananda Giri rubbishing such allegation against one of his followers said it aims to malice credibility of the Ashram. According to him few vested interest persons are eyeing on the property of the Ashram with the active support of a senior staff of the ashram. “We have recently driven out a senior lady staff of the ashram for violating ashram rules. So with the help of the lady she wants to create trouble to defame our credibility. Very soon every thing will crystal clear”, Swami Sankarananda Giri told. However Swami Kalikananda is not available for his comment.

It may be mentioned here that there are two schools running under the Kriyayog foundatioon namely Prabhuji English medium school at Rairakhol and Prabhuji Sevasram School at Laxamjhuli just 10 km away from Rairakhol. While free lodging and boarding is providing to the tribals and poor children of the society at Sevasram, the society charges money in the English medium school. At present about 200 students are residing in Sevashram and about 500 students in English Medium School the lady Tilottama was working as daily wage earner in the Sevasram at Laxamjhuli when the incident allegedly took place.

LATER SWAMI SANKARANANDA REFUTED ON SUCH ALLEGATION AND SAID HIS FOUNDATION IS PREPARE FOR DNA TEST OF THE ACCUSED SWAMI

In the alleged swami Kalikananda’s sexual exploitation on a tribal lady, the president of Kriyayog foundation Swami Sankarananda Giri declares that his foundation is prepared for DNA test of the accused swami to prove him innocence. Briefing to the press media persons on Monday Swami Sankarananda accuses former vice-president of the foundation as the ‘king-pin’ of the whole episode. ‘After her removal from the foundation’s vice-president ship, she wants to ruin the credibility of the foundation by creating a false story against one of the swami of the foundation’, Swami Sankarananda said countering the allegation of a tribal lady who lodged a complaint against Swami Kalikananda with Rairakhol police station on Saturday where she claims him to be father of her daughter.

According to swami Sankarananda of ‘Kriyayog foundation’ under which the Prabhuji English Medium School and Prabhuji Sevasram are running at Rairakhol (60 km away from Sambalpur), the present vice-president Swami Kalikanada is innocent and the entire allegations that are made against him is false and baseless. “We are ready to go for DNA test of both Swami and the child to prove him innocent”. Swami Sankarananda told.

It may be mentioned here that a tribal lady Tillottama Mirdha made a complaint with the Rairakhol police on Saturday against Swami Kalikananda accusing him to have sexual relation with her and fathered her girl-child a decade ago when she was working in the Ashram. She also claimed that swami had administered her herbal medicine to terminate her first pregnancy. The police registered a case against Swami Kalikananda basing on the complaint of the tribal lady and failed to arrest him as he remains ‘abscond’ since after the police case. .

On the other hand Swami Sankarananda revealed that Sudhama was earlier vice-president of the foundation for a long period but recently she was sacked from foundation when misappropriation of official fund was found against her. ‘I know she is mastermind behind it to demolish our credibility by bring such a heinous allegation against a swami’ Swami Sankarananda told. Swami Sankarananda also reveals of getting constant life-threatening from anti-socials that are possibly instigated by Sudhama, the former vice-president of the foundation.

accept the truth:civil body suggests state government

The former high court justice Chaudhary Pratap Keshari Mishra suggests the state government to accept the truth on the draught situation occurred in the western part of the state as a result of which farmers are committing suicide one after another owing to heavy crop damage. “It is better to face the consequences by accepting the truth than to drag poor farmers to commit suicide” justice Mishra told while talking to the media on Thursday at Sambalpur.

Accepting the request of various civil societies and mass organizations of the state, justice Mishra led the fact-finding team, comprising former central minister Braja Kishore Tripathy and secretary of Kranti Mnach Chiita Ranjan Mohanty that visited draught hit areas of western Orissa and the villages where farmers have committed suicide owing to crop damage. During the two-day visits on Wednesday and Thursday the team also met the farmers of Jamenkira block sitting on a Dhrna over the past 18 days in front of the Tahasil office.

“It is a heinous crime on the part of the government not to take appropriate action to safeguard the interest of the farmers of the region even though farmers have expressed their apprehension much earlier about the situation to the government”, justice Mishra alleged.

According to him district administrations of both Sambalpur and Jharsuguda district are purely responsible for such a situation for not initiating appropriate steps in non-irrigated areas to involve the poor farmers in NREGS programme when these areas receive a very low rainfall this year. “From the records of the deceased Pandab Bhoi of Kamatikra (Sambalpur) who committed suicide on 12^th August it is well established that district administration is not at all serious on the NREGS schemes. The empty pages of his job card shows that he never got a job under the scheme”, Justice Mishra told.

“Forget about the pre-action when the administration has even failed to include the wife of the deceased persons in any of the welfare schemes of the government months after the suicide of their husbands. When there are hundreds of welfare schemes with the government, the deceased families have been left with abject poverty”, justice Mishra told.

The members of the team alleged that most of the farmers of the non-irrigated areas have been supplied with kerosene pump-sets on the interest of the government officials. ‘But the officials take no step to supply kerosene to the farmers” former central minister Braja Kishore Tripathy told.

The team will submit a report to the governor to press the government to take immediate step to declare the area as draught hit by supplying all necessary materials free of cost to the farmers to strengthen them for the next crop. “We will submit a report to the governor to seek his intervention immediately”, the secretary of Kranti Mnach Chiita Ranjan Mohanty

congress wants to take political mileage from the existing situation

Congress workers seem jubilant over the overwhelmed support of the general public to make the ‘western Orissa bandh’ a successful on Monday. The senior party leaders are now thinking to take political advantage from the situation by highlighting failure of the government in both farmers and students issues. Party leaders have decided to keep this issue alive till the next session of assembly.

“The anguish of the common people got reflected during the ‘Bandh’. Government has totally failed in solving the problem of common people. The post occurrence of Farmers’ suicide and student unrest shows how government fails to tackle sensitive issue”, Sambalpur district congress president Sureswar Mishra told.

Congress has decided to begin a massive agitation against the state government on the farmers’ issue. Party leaders accuse the state government for not taking the issue seriously even after farmers of the region are continued to commit suicide one after another. “The government is not at all serious on the issue. When farmers of the state are committing suicides government is not ready to take its responsibility”, senior congress leader and Sambalpur MP Amarnath Pradhan told.

Congress begins its political campaign against the state government form western Orissa as the issue of farmers and recently occurred police excesses on student in Bolangir have become two major issues where congress gets opportunity to attack the government. “We have decided to continue our agitation to create awareness among the people regarding the failure of the government” senior congress leader and Sambalpur MP Amarnath Pradhan said.
According to the party source Agriculture minister of state PC Thomas is scheduled to visit Orissa on 10^th November. During the visit the minister will visit various places of the region to study the situation. Congress has decided to organize a massive farmers rally at Bargarh during the time of visit of the central minister.

“We are planning to organize a big farmers rally at Bargarh where central minister will take part and address the farmers. He will also visit several places to study the condition of the farmers”, Jharsuguda legislature Naba Das told.

The NSUI (student congress) on the other hand expressed deep gratitude to the people western Orissa for giving wholehearted support to make the Bandh successful. “We shall continue our agitation against the government to safeguard the interest of the student-mass. We further demand a compensation of Rs. 20 lakhs in place of Rs.5 lakhs to each of the deceased students’, the president of the NSUI of Sambalpur unit Debashis Dash told.

12 hours Bandh of congress passes peacefully

The 12-hour bandh call given by students’ congress threw life out of gear in western part of the state on Monday as rail and road traffic remained severely affected. Train movement was hit in the Sambalpur division for over more than six hours as congress activists stopped trains in various stations. The rail authority had to cancel 3 trains originating from Sambalpur on Monday Morning. Plying of buses was also stopped in view of the Bandh. Schools colleges, offices both private and government, banks, commercial establishments were closed down due to the picketing of the party workers. BJP workers and Bar associations of various places come forward in support of the Bandh.

According to the railway sources 3 trains including sambalpur-Puri intercity, Sambalpur-Rayagada intercity and Sambalpur-Rourkela DMU were cancelled and another 8 trains were detained on the route in view of the bandh. While Sambalpur-Nizamabad was detained in Sambalpur station, , Amritsar-Visakhapatnam Hirakud express got detained at Brajarajnagar station. Howrah-Keraput express was detained at Jharsuguda and BBSR-LMT express got detained at Boinda. The Ispat express was also detained at Hirakud station. “Train service was resumed at noon when all detained trains were allowed to run” an official of the division told.

“It was spontaneous as every one supported the Bandh”, District congress president Sureswar Mishra told. According to him though it given by the student congress against the police excesses on Bolangir students killing two of them, district congress with the help of various associations including bus owners, truck owners and merchant made the Bandh successful.

On the other hand looking to the bandh heavy police arrangement was made in various districts. While northern division IG Yogesh Bahadur Khurania was stationed at Bolangir, DIG (western) Lalit Das was stationed at Sambalpur to handle the situation. “It was quite normal in Bolangir. Except office of collector, all other offices remained close due to Bandh. About 18 platoons of police forces were deployed in Bolangir”, IG Khurania told.

Police arrested 87 persons in Jharsuguda and 31 persons in Bargarh during Bandh but no arrest was made in Sambalpur. Congress workers blocked roads on various places with burning tyres which restricted movement of private vehicles. However no unto ward incident was reported in any place of the region. “We deployed 18 platoons of police forces in Sambalpur, 3 platoons in Jharsuguda, 6 platoons in Bargarh and a platoon in Sonepur to tackle the situation. However thing passed peacefully every where in the region” DIG Lalit Das said.

The student congress on the other hand expressed gratitude to every one for the success of the Bandh. ‘It was possible because of the support of several organizations and association’, the president of the district Chhatra congress Debashis Dash told. We warn the government not to play with the sentiment of the students. “We demand a compensation of Rs. 20 lakhs to each deceased students in place of Rs. 5 lakhs”, Dash added.

standing committee to expidite VSS autonomy issue

The standing committee of state assembly has assured to expedite the proposal of giving autonomy to status to VSS Medical College and Hospital of Burla during their visit to Sambalpur on Friday. The committee members expressed concern on the non-functioning of the various equipments and machines only because of the absent of experts and technicians.

“Shortage of faculty members and technical staff becomes the real problem of the institution. we assure to expedite the autonomy issue as we feel every thing will be set right once the institution will be made autonomous”, the chairman of the committee and legislature Bishnu Das told.

Sources said the committee visits the district to assess the health and social welfare programme that are undergoing in the district. The committee comprises of the legislature Sipra Mallick, Sarojini Hemram, Adikanda Seth, Dr. Pramod Mallick and Hitesh Bagarti have visited VSS Medical College and Hospital on Friday. During their visit they review the vacancy position of both teaching and non-teaching staff, requirement of infrastructure and buildings. They also examine quality of health services available in the Hospital. “We find non-functioning of various equipments as there is not technical experts to run the machines”, Mr. Das said.

The members expressed concern over the volume of encroachment inside the campus. ‘Unauthorized occupation inside the campus is growing due to loose administration. We have directed the authority to take strict action against the illegal occupants’, Mr. Das said.

The committee also visited one roadside school to assess the position of the mid-day-meal schemes. Later they review the situation of the district by sharing their experience with district level officials in the DRDA conference hall.

“The members have discussed with the district level officials of various department before they leave for Bhubneswar in the evening”, the collector (Sambalpur) PK Patnaik told.

painless treament through mantra

Faith and believe on god some time does miracle in the human society. This was evident from a large gathering of patients that throngs in a camp organized by the Central Rotary club of Sambalpur on Wednesday where Nimesh Bhai Saha of Gujarat’s Ahemadabad was supposed to provide painless treatment to cure them. Sitting in chair on a stage he murmured few Mantras for 10 minutes and waving his right palm he claims to treat them through the radiation of the Mantra.

“About 5 thousand patients suffering of various deadly diseases have participated in the camp to get the free treatment. It is a treatment through Tantra and Mantra. When we hear the visit of Nimesh Bhai Saha of Ahemadabad to Orissa we immediately contact him to fix up the date. We have heard his power of his treatment through mantra. So we have thought to provide his power to our people”, the president of the Rotary Club of Central, Sambalpur Ramesh Kedia told.

Sources said, Nimesh Bhai Saha of Ahamadabad receives a godly power on 15^th August 2007 to treat patients through Jain Navokar Mantra. It is such a powerful mantra that it can treat deadly disease like diabetics, cancer, thyroid, heart diseases and many more related to human body. “I have cured about 5 lakhs people through this mantra by organize more than 40 camps across the country It is a simple process to treat patients. I have received the power from god. People have experienced the changes minute after the treatment”, Nimesh Bhai Saha claimed

“But to keep the disease out from the body one has to perform satiwk style of living. No non-veg, no boozing, no tobacco and no stress in the life. Help to humankind and live disease free life”, Saha added.

However for few this is yet another form of superstition. “In the living world when people spend lakhs of rupees to get cured from a disease how a Mantra can cure a person. I just attend the camp to quench my curiosity”, diabetic patient RK Agrawal told.

But still it is a last resort for many patients who fail to recover even after spending huge money. “I do not know how this work. But I have a firm faith on Indian culture and Sometimes Mantra works more than the medicines” Madhusudan Kedia told

Oriya artists makes sai alive through his animation

Good news for the Devotees of the sirdi Saba who keep a great faith on the godly saint. Soon they will see his life history through animated version A young talented person hails from Orissa has taken the challenge to make the animated film of basing on the life history of Sirdi Saibaba. For the one hour life picture of the human god, the Siridi Sai foundation is going spend more than two crores rupees on his project.

Santosh Kumar Sahu has his own set up of an animation institution ‘Fantasia arts’ at Sambalpur and perhaps he is first Oriya to start his own venture to produce animation film in Orissa. He has got this technique from Singapore when he was involved in import-export trading few years back. A native of Baripada, Sahu is a promising Oriya who aims to give a new dimension to the animation world by highlighting Indian culture through his animation.

“Children are fun of animation and cartoon picture. But now American’s Disney or Chinese’s Jodo and fighting are prominently ruled over the croton world. So we can not blame our Children for going away from Indian culture. We have to produce more such cartoon like Krishna and Hanuman to highlight our culture among our children”, Santosh Sahu told.

According to him when he had been Berlin and Singapore during 2007 and 2008 in connection with his import-export business, he came in touch of the animation world. “After visiting several institutions in Borlin and Singapore couple of years back, I came in touch with the animation world. I was thrilled to experience technological development in animation.. Than I decided take animation as my career. I was having interest in animation since my child hood. So it was easy for me to take up the challenge”, Santosh added. a global merchant diploma holder from Global Maritime distress and safety communication (GMDSS) of Madras in 2004, Santosh, started his career in import-export business after completion of his diploma...

Coming back to India, Sushanta went to Bhopal and met famous animator KR Ghosh and with his active support he begins his career in animation technology. During his training period he worked for several animation projects including ‘Krishna’. “I have got an assignment to animate Siridi Sai’s life history. For the one hour picture I visit many villages related to Sai and collect many photographs of the persons that were in touch with Sai while he was alive”, Santosh told.

“We are also planning to start 2 Dimension and 3 Dimension animation diploma course and certificate in graphic design which helps to generate employment in various sectors. We have also decided to give animation training to school children to create interest among the children in animation work”, Santosh told.

Bolangir in flame after police van killed a student

Bolangir town of Orissa was once again in fire after the situation went beyond the control of the district administration on Saturday when a police van killed Sakti Prasad Mohanty, a student of SITE (Susree institute of technical education) hitting his motor bike. The incident sparks severe tension in the town as students of the institution took law in their hands started vandalism in the town demanding action against the erring driver of the van.

Sources said Sakti a student of SITE was killed on the road after his bike hit with a police van on Saturday afternoon. He was declared dead when students and local took him to the hospital. The irate students blaming the police responsible for the death of their colleague started scolding the police present in the hospital. The situation turned violent when police resorted to lathi charge on them, sources said. Several students got injured the situation became uncontrolled. Irate students along with locals torched several vehicles including government buses. They also set fire on several trucks passing through the road. Irate mob set fire in the local police station protesting the police action. By evening Bolangir town was in flame. IG (NR) YB Khurania rushed to Bolangir to assess the situation. Police deployed armed forces and proclaimed 144 in the town. "situation has been brought under control and every thing is normal now" Khurania told on Sunday.

But violence spread to other part of the region with the death of yet another student Sashikanta Panda while under treatment in VSS medical College hospital on the following day (Sunday). He was admitted in the hospital after sustaining serious injuries with police lathi charge. The death of the Sashi fueled the anger of the students.

The student congress and university students blocked the road in front of the Hospital alleging the death due to negligence of the treating doctor. They demanded compensation and action against the senior officials of Bolangir district to intensify the situation. "There was no negligence on the part of Doctors. he was given all type of treatment soon he was admitted on Sunday Morning. But unfortunately he died in the after-noon" , superintendent of VSS Hospital Dr. Gunasagar Dash told.

On the other hand Government declared for a judicial probe into the incident and a compensation of Rs. 5 lakhs to the family of deceased students in order to pacify the issue. But not withstanding with the decision the Government, congress (student wing) gives call to bandh western Orissa on Monday. "Government has declared to give Rs.5 lakhs to the family of the deceased student and to conduct judicial probe into the incident. so I do not see any reason to give bandh call", collector (Sambalpur) P K Patnaik told

It may be recalled that such a situation was occurred in Bolangir when a police van killed a local pedestrian in the town in last February. Than also the town was in flame.

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Sagarpali farmer death::Communist to give Dharna in front of Guv house

Communist party (CPI) believes farmers suicide incidents have a direct link with the crop damage and loan-burden Accusing the state government on the issue party had demanded proper compensation to the deceased family and to declare drought-hit to all non-irrigated area. In support to the farmer issue the party has decided to sit on Dharan in front of the governor’s house on 5^th Nov.

“We visited the various villages where farmers have committed suicide in both Jharsuguda and Sambalpur districts. We also met the agitating farmers at Jamenkira. Now we come to a conclusion that government has totally failed to safeguard the interest of the farmers and thus responsible for each incidents. Now we demand proper financial assistance to the deceased family and proper action to check any further incident with out going for further probe on the incident”, the state secretariat member of the Communist party Ashok Bisi told.

According to him since it has been crystal clear that farmers commit suicide after suffering heavy crop loss due to poor rainfall and attack of insects. “They have taken this step to get rid from the financial burden of loans both from cooperative and personals. So going for further enquiry will create unnecessary delay in dealing the situation”, Mr. Bishi told.

Party has decided to organize a Dharna in front of governor’s house on 5^th Nov in support of the farmer issue. “We will sit on Dharna in front of governor house under the banner of our mass organization Utkal Rajya Krusak Sangha to put forth our demand on the issue”, Bisi added

"we have decided to agitate on the issue till government takes a suitable action to check farmers' suicide in the state" vice-president of Utkal Rajya Krusak Sangha Khirod Singhdeo said.

BJD leaders deffer to government on farmers' issue

Even ruling BJD seems interested to take political mileage from the farmers’ suicide incident that has recently created much chaos in the political circle of the state. When various political parties criticized the government on such incidents, BJD does not leave any stone unturned to attract the people by giving statement against the government’s version. With out criticizing the government, the visiting party leaders give statements on the incidents that corroborates version of oppositions.

‘We visited Sagarpali and Khapsadera where two farmers had committed suicide. After visiting the places and verifying the circumstances, we convinced that the farmers took the ultimate steps due to heavy loss of crop. Crop loss leading to financials difficulties led the farmers to commit suicide” BJD leader Hamid Hussein told to the media after visiting the two places on Monday.

However they did not give any comment on the statement of the state agriculture minister that totally contracts to their statement. “We visit the places to assess the situation. We will submit our observation before the chief minister. So we have nothing to comment on the issue now” senior BJD leader and Rajya Sabha member Kishore Mohanty told.

The statement of the visiting BJD leaders has totally baffled the opposition leaders. When government and district administrations are on the opinion that such incidents have no linked with crop loss and cooperative loans, the visiting party leaders say farmers commit suicide due to crop loss due to insufficient rain and attack of insects. “This is totally a farce that going on in the state. When party leaders do not support the statement given by their minister, the minister has no right continue as a minister. So we demand the resignation of the minister” state BJP president Suresh Pujari told to TOI.

On the other hand the party’s alliance partner CPI has also does not forget to attack government on the issue. The state secretariat member Ashok Bisi in a press release attacking the derogative statement of the agriculture minister said it is quite unfortunate to give such a statement with out verifying the truth on the issue “After visiting the villages of the victims we come to a conclusion that farmers have sustained heavy financial difficulties due to crop loss leading them to commit suicide”, Mr. Bisi told

Meanwhile opposition congress has decided to make it a issue to attack the government in the coming session of the assembly. “Government has totally failed to safeguard the interest of the farmers of the state which has been proved from the continuous incident of farmers’ suicide. Instead of consoling deceased family government is trying to suppress the issue by citing the cause of suicide as family disturbances. We will drag the government on this issue in the coming assembly session” local legislature and congress leader Anup Sai told

another two farmers died with in 24 hours

When farmers of the region are ups in arms against government’s silence on farmers’ suicide due crop loss, another 2 farmers died allegedly by committing suicide with in last 24 hours has given a real blow to the government. With this the death toll in farmer suicide has gone up to 5 in the current kharif season. Though the cause of the recent suicide has not yet ascertained, the incident is enough to fuel the anger of the farmers. While one dies jumping before a running train in Sambalpur’s Bamra on Sunday the other one succumbed in mysteriously in Jharsuguda’s Piplikani village in wee hours of Monday. Police identified them as Angad Barik (65) of Gunduruchuan village of Sambalpur district and Amaredra Pradhan (40) of Piplikani.village in Jharsuguda district. Police sent the body for autopsy and registered cases of unnatural death in both incidents.

‘We recovered a suicidal note from the pocket of the deceased Angad who died killing himself before a running train in Bamra Rly station on Sunday. In the note he described that as he was suffering from an uncured disease he decided to kill self and no one was responsible for his death. We recovered the death body and sent for autopsy’, the officer of Jharsuguda Railway police said. The station is under Jharsuguda railway police limits.

Sources said, deceased Angad was having two sons. While elder one stays outside, he was living with younger in the village. He was having 12 acres of lands but due to poor rainfall he sustains heavy crop loss. He had taken cooperative loan of Rs. 25, 000/- in the name of his son. “Financial burden on one side and suffering from a mysterious disease on other side cripples his mental strength. So he decided to take such a decision”, younger son Debabrat Batik told

On the other hand Amrendra Pradhan (40) of Piplikani village under Banharpali police station of Jharsuguda district was a member of farmer’s family. Due to poor rainfall, his family sustained huge loss this year. “He was suffering from illness since two days. But we do not know how he died on this morning”, his brother Abinash Padhan told “When we found his dead body in a mysterious condition suspecting it a case of suicide we informed the police”, he added.

We sent the body for autopsy and registered a case of unnatural death. However we would ascertain the cause of the death only after receiving the PM report”, a senior police officer of Jharsuguda district told.

It may be informed that earlier on august 12th farmer Pandav Bhoi of Khamatikra ( under Katarbaga ps of Sambalpur) , on 4th Oct Gourahari patra of Sagarpali (under lakhanpur ps of Jharsuguda and on 7th Oct Bidyadhar Bag of Khapsadera (under Rengali ps of Sambalpur) have already committed suicide over severe crop loss. In all three cases deceased have consumed pesticide to kill themselves for similar reason , but government has yet to alert on this issue.

Farmers blocked NH 200 against government apathy

Movement of traffic came to a halt on NH 200 on Monday following road blockade agitation of farmers at Bhainrkhol chowck under Lakhanpur police station of Jharsuguda district. Thousands of farmers assembled on the spot to protest the government negative attitude on agriculture sector. They also decided to bring out a massive agitation incase government does not take appropriate step to protect the interest of the farmers.

“We consider farmers’ suicide deaths are having a direct link with the wrong agriculture policy of the state government. But instead of realizing the mistake, government is trying to suppress the issue by giving false statement. So we take up this agitation only to protest the government’s attitude”, Gopinath Majhi one of the convener of the agitation told.

The statement of the state agriculture minister and government officials on the farmer suicide has irked the farmers of the region. “Forget about the minister when district collector has not visited the village till date. But with out visiting or verifying the truth if they say suicide has no relation with crop loss one can understand their intension”, another convenor Jitendra Pradhan told .The agitated farmers demanded a compensation of Rs.2 lakhs to each deceased family committed suicide, amending the report of director declare Lakhanpur block as draught, consider panchayat as unit in crop insurance, waiving of loan taken in current Kharif season, free provision of seeds fertilizers and electricity for the ensuing crop, functioning of the lift points, irrigation facility from reservoir to Lakhanpur block.

“Apart from these demands, we have decided to bring out a massive agitation in Lakhanpur block of the Jharsuguda district in the near future to show the strength of the farmers of the locality”, Ananta Panda told

On the other hand political leaders including Hemananda Biswal, Suresh Pujari, local legislature Anup Sai and farmer leader Ashok Pradhan have extended their support to the agitated farmers by participating in the agitation that continued till 4 pm.

Sagarpali farmer death: an eye opening for farmers

The farmer’s death in Sagarpali village in Jharsuguda district seemed to be an eye opener for the farmers of the locality who have been suffering the injustice ever since the construction of the Hirakud dam. The farmers have decided to bring out a massive agitation against the government’s wrong policy and to start with the proposed agitation they are going to block the NH 200 at Bhainrkhol chowck on Monday from 8 am to 4 pm.

“It is really a matter of regret that farmer of our village dies committing suicide for crop loss due to poor rainfall. Surprisingly the village got reconstructed near the old-one after that was submerged in Hirakud reservoir. We reside on the bank of reservoir ever since the dam was constructed but due to wrong policy of the government we do not get reservoir water for irrigation”, a villager of Sagarpali, Bhaskar Pradhan told. “One can understand our sorrow of net getting the benefit of the dam where 70 percent of our village has been submerged. No one realizes the contribution that our forefathers”, Pradhan added.

Sources said, a farmer of the village Gurahari Patra died committing suicide on 4^th Oct following a heavy loss of crop due to poor rainfall and insects.

“He was farming seriously by taking cooperative loan of Rs. 20 thousand. But he was mentally upset after seeing heavy crop damages. He committed suicide consuming pesticide leaving his widow and 4 son and daughters” another villager Panchan Saa told.

According to him villagers become angry following the statement of the concern minister and district officials on the death of Gourahari. “When every one knows his death has a direct link with the crop loss, one should not give derogative statement on him with out verifying the truth”, villager Loknath Sahu opined.

Meanwhile, a team of state communist party visited the village to console deceased family on Sunday. Even becoming the alliance partner, the CPI demanded proper attention of the government on this issue. “We affirm the death was due to crop loss so with out making any delay in setting inquiry commission the CM Navin Patink should intervene the matter to prevent such cases in the state.”, state secretariat member Ashok Bishi told to TOI on Sunday. Surprisingly even 14 days after the incident, the collector has not visited the village to console the deceased family

locals irked over 'Samalai Hundi' thieve

Condemning regular theft from the Hundi of the famous maa Samaleswari temple, locals demand proper investigation to trace the culprits. A group of local youths under the banner of the Sambalpur Jagaran Manch submitted a memorandum to the district administration on Friday. They also asked the administration to provide regular police patrolling during night hours around the temple to ensure no further repetition of such incident.

“We are quite surprised on the repeated incident of theft from the temple Hundi Even godly places are not spared. So we submitted a memorandum to the district administration to trace out the culprits and to ensure proper security arrangement in the temple during night hours” Goutam Halder, the convener of the Manch told.

Sources said, Samaleswari temple of Sambalpur is quite famous in the locality as thousands of devotees visit the temple every day. But on special occasions, especially during ‘Dushhera’ the number goes up. Huge collections of donations are expected from devotes through the ‘Hundi’. But the managing trustee remains in dark about the exact collection of donation because of the regular theft incident. Miscreants decamp with money by breaking the lock of the ‘hundi’.

“We do not know the exact amount of collection from the Hundi because of theft. We make a complaint before the police every time it occurs but police are yet to trace the culprits. So we are planning to install close circuit camera inside the temple very soon’, president of the temple trustee Sadashiv Mohapatra told.

It may be mentioned here that miscreants decamped with huge sum from the ‘hundi’ breaking its lock just couple of days ago. Police registered a case basing on the complaint of the managing trustee but failed to trace the accused. “Investigation is on. But we are yet to find out the culprits”, town police officer Akash Sahu told. “It is a serious issue. I will personally request the SP to investigate the matter”, the ADM NK Satpathy assured the members of the Manch while receiving the memorandum from them of Friday.

girl chopped off her tongue to get 'choice' match

A 19-year-old girl chopped off her tongue inside a Shiva temple and offered it to the god at Jhar village in Bargarh. She did so to invoke the god's blessings to marry the person she desired instead of the match fixed by her parents. She narrated her story when the temple priest found her lying in the temple with blood on her face on Tuesday morning.

Sources said, the victim Renubala, daughter of Birabahu Naik of Khapanpali had gone to the Shiva temple of Jhar during late night to invoke the blessing of the god. She chopped off her tongue with a blade to offer it to lord Shiva. The temple priest was the first to discover her lying in a shocking condition inside the temple. Victim divulged her story when the priest enquired her condition.

"I was shocked to see her lying on the temple floor in the morning. She was bleeding from her face. She had chopped her tongue off with a blade and offered it to the god," priest of the temple Basudev Mohapatra told TOI.

Villagers rushed to the temple when the news spread. They tried to take her to the hospital but she refused. "We tried to take her to the nearby hospital but she refused to go anywhere," villager Narayan Meher said.

Even the police rushed to the spot and persuaded her to take her to hospital. But Police became powerless before her farm-faith on God. “Police went back after she declared stay inside the temple for a total 21 days’, another villager said.

Sources said the girl was against her marriage schedules in December because the groom was quite older to her. She was interested to marry a younger one. So she did this with a belief that she would get her choice match if she could please the God by offering her tongue.

police arrested two on the officer manhandled incident

Police arrested two local BJP leaders on Monday night in connection with the manhandled incident of deputy director (agriculture), Sambalpur. Police took this action soon after receiving a complaint from one of the subordinate staff of the victim officer. Both were sent to judicial custody after the magistrate rejected the bail plea.

Police sources said, two party leaders that took active part in the manhandled incident of the officer occurred in the Gangadhar mandap on Monday have been arrested soon after receiving a complint. The two are identified as Jaybrat Dey and Debasis Purohit. “We arrest Dey from his residence and Purohit from Zilla school chowck. We have sent them to judicial custody soon magistrate rejected their bail applications”. SDPO (Sambalpur) DK Deo told.

It may be mentioned here that angry mob led by BJP leader Jayabrat Dey manhandled the deputy director of agriculture DC Pal here at Gangadhar Mandap while the Krusak mela was under progress. The agitators had blacken the face of the officer and made him walk on the street. Police rescued him when the mob taken him to the office of collector. They alleged that the officer with out going to respective villages had prepared faulty report on farmers’ suicide.

Reacting on the arrest of party workers, the state BJP president Suresh Pujari said, agitation against injustice of farmers would continue in spite of the arrest of the workers. “Let police do their work”, Pujari said. Hinting on a full-fledged statewide agitation against the government’s anti-farmers policy, he said, “ BJP will bring out a strong agitation against the government’s anti-farmers policy very soon”

On the other hand the farmers association has warned the officials not to give any derogative statement on farmers suicide with out going into detail of the fact. The farmer leaders alleged that the Sambalpur Sub-collector Kailash Chandra Sahu had given derogative comments on the farmers’ suicide. But he left Sambalpur after hearing the incident of the deputy director. “He was supposed to convene the meeting of the Pani Panchayat was scheduled for on Monday afternoon. But sub-collector left Sambalpur before the scheduled time after hearing the incident of DDA”, farmer leader M Govindu told. “The officer was in target for giving derogative comments on the farmers suicide”, he added.

officer face was blackened over faulty report on farmer's suicide

In connection with the suicide of the farmers in Jharsuguda and Sambalpur in last week, enraged BJP workers manhandled and thrashed Sambalpur deputy director of Agriculture Mr. DC Pal on Monday at Gangadhar Mandap, here just minutes before inauguration of Krusak Mela-2009 where he was invited as a guest. The officer was made to walk on the street after painting black on his face. The officer was than rescued by the police at collector office. However no case was register by the police till evening in absent of any complaint from the officer. The mela which was continued with out any inauguration as all other dignitaries and senior government officers including collector and RDC did not turn up to the spot after the incident.

“We rescued him after he was taken to the collector office premises. When we got the information about the incident it was all over. However we prevented the mob at Gangadhar Mandap when they were creating vandalism to close the mela”, SDPO (Sambalpur) Dilip Kumar Deo told. However he denied of receiving any complaint from the officer about the incident. We are waiting for the complaint. We will investigate the issue once we receive complaint from the victim officer”, Mr. Deo added.

Sources said, the deputy director was entrusted by the government to submit a report on the suicidal deaths of two farmers who died in Jharsuguda on 4^th Oct and in Sambalpur on 7^th October. The officer with out visiting the spots submitted reports where he citied the cause as ‘family dispute’.

“The DDA has submitted reports to the government citing deaths of farmers have no relation with the crop loss or agriculture loan. When every one knows that destruction of paddy is due to poor rain fall and attack of Leda poka, the officer misleads government by submitting false report just sitting in his office. So in order to teach him a lesson we did it”, a BJP worker told.

Incidentally a team of BJP high level leaders led by state president Suresh Pujari visited the Khapsadea village (Sambalpur district) on Monday where a farmer had committed suicide on 7^th October. The senior party leaders including Kharabela Swain, Monmohan Samal, Dharmendra Pradhan and Surendra Lath while expressing their anguish over the incident blamed the government for not showing any sympathetic attitude towards the farmers of the region. “Every one knows that this time heavy crop damage has occurred due to poor rainfall and attack insects. But if you misled the fact than you have to pay the price”, BJP president Suresh Pujari told signaling on the incident of Deputy Director of Agriculture. “However we do not approve the incident occurred in Sambalpur but these types of incidents are inevitable if government continues to neglect the agriculture sector” Pujari added.

college boy died drowning

In a drowning incident, a student of local NSCB College died in Maltijore nulla at Gunderpur under Dhama police station in Sambalpur on Thursday afternoon. The fire brigade and police fished out his body from the nulla soon after the incident. However the incident triggered wide spread tension among the local who blocked Dhanupali-Dhama road for few hours demanding compensation to the deceased family. Police sources said, 3 boys from Netaji Subash Chandra Bose college of Sambalpur had been to the Nulla in the noon taking bath. One named Saurav Dey (17) of Bengalipara of the town was drowned in the nulla because of the heavy water current. Agitators cleared the road after assurance given by the local police.