swine flu makes havoc in western Orissa

lawyers continue their agitation demanding high court bench

 The functioning of the courts and revenues offices including office of collector and RDC in Sambalpur was completely disrupted because of the picketing of the lawyers in protest against government apathy in establishment of the high court bench.  The lawyers assembled at Kachery chock in the morning and obstructed the judicial magistrates to enter into the courts.

“Judicial magistrates including the district judge did not enter the court premises because of the obstruction of the agitating lawyers. They also obstructed the revenue officials and did not allow them to enter their respective offices”, a senior police officer of the district said.

According to him the agitation of lawyers was peaceful and there was no report of untoward incidents. However common people faced difficulties as the office of RDC, collector, Sub-collector and Tahasil were closed down by the lawyers. “We have decided to obstruct the judicial magistrates and revenue officials on Monday also. But on Tuesday it will be a cease- work agitation. We will continue this agitation on last 3 working days of every month till the establishment of high court bench in western odisha”, general Secretary of the Sambalpur district bar Dilip Bishi said.

On the other hand Saturday being the ‘grievance day’ of the collector, many people came to collector office to put forth their grievances but due to agitation the office of collector was closed down which forced them to go back.  On Monday also offices were closed down with similar protest by the lawyers.                    

debt-ridden lady farmers kills herself setting fire

A female farmer immolated herself pouring kerosene on Thursday in her Faslabahal village under Jamenkira police station of the district. She is identified as Saudamini Naik who took over family cultivation ever since the death of her husband 15 years ago. She was cultivating about 15 acres of land taking loan from a cooperative society located in Fasimal.  The locals said she was worried because of the failure of the crop this year as she was unable to repay the loan. However police have not yet confirmed whether it was an accidental or suicide.

“We have to confirm it whether it was a suicide or an accident. Since she was an able farmer of the village having a strong mentality, she could not take such a step to kill her self even if crop was failed this year, the SDPO (Kuchinda) RG Panigrahi said.  According to him police have not registered a case as the villager performed the last ritual of the lady before police could get the information.

Sources said, deceased Saudamini Naik (55) was taking care of the family ever since her husband died 15 years ago. She took over the family cultivation to run the family smoothly. She also performed the marriage of her 3 daughters and gave good education to her only son.

We know her as a very strong lady. She took over the entire work of her husband and performed every responsibility with out fail after the death of her husband. She performed the marriage of her 3 daughters in good places. But crop-loss might have broken her backbone as she was worried not to repay her loan.”, a villager of Falsabahal said.  

Sources said, she came back to her house in the noon after visiting her field. She was totally upset after seeing her field as crop was totally damage because of poor rain fall. She poured kerosene and lit her body. She was rescued by the villager but it was all over she was completely burnt. The villagers cremated the charred body with out waiting police. “We informed the police but as police could not reach in time” a villager said.            

Activists to protest in case government allows Vedanta for mining in Gandhamardhan

The former parliamentarian and leader of the Balco movement Bhawani Sankar Hota has warned the government to refrain from thinking of mining of Bauxite in Gandhamardhan hill as people are already joined for yet another fight to save the forest range as it provides them bread and butter. While speaking to the press, Hota said that the Gandhamardan is full of herbal and medicinal plants and mining will definitely destroy the flora and fauna of the mountain range.  Thousands of people especially the tribal of the region will be uprooted from their livelihood in case of mining as they earn their livelihood from the forest.

“We do not oppose industrialization, but not at the cost of the tribal people and at the cost of the destruction. If at all government wants to improve the area, than eco-tourism and herbal medicine plant will be better for the development of the area”, Hota asserted. He demanded rejection of the applications of the companies that are interested for the mining in Gandhamardhan.  “Government should declare the area as ‘mining free zone’ to save the environment of the area which is considered a pious place as it bears faith and believes of the lakhs of Indian” another activist swami Sombesh said

on the other hand, eminent social activists and environmentalist Prafulla Samantara believes that BALCO movement that saved Gandhamardhan in 1980s is considered as mother of all movements that have taken place in the country against industrialization, "so how can we tolerate if any one puts eye on it once again. The protest will be vigorous and massive if by any point of time government thinks to allow Gandhamardhan to Vedanta for mining. How can we allow any one to rob our mother? We will fight to save our mother”, Prafulla Samantara said on the possibility of allowing Vedanta for mining in Gandhamardhan. 

According to him Gandhamardhan has uncountable herbal and medicinal plant which are rarely available else where in the country. “We should be proud for the nature for giving such huge area of resources, but instead of utilizing the resources if government wants to destroy we are already to fight to save it” Samantara said.

While talking to TOI in Sambalpur on Sunday at Sambalpur, he expressed concern over the state government’s industrial policy which definitely convent the state into a desert. “Industrialization is needed but not at the cost of people”, he said.

Lok Mukti Abhijan chief Prafulla Samantara said that government should direct the Vedanta to close its refinery at Lanjigarh after central government accepted the Saxena report on Niyamgiri which disallowed mining in Niyamgiri hill. “Any mining or industry with in 50 km radius will definitely put a negative effect on the environment of Niyamgiri hill.” He said.

According to him, state government is desperate to hand over many such area including Panchamali (Kasipur) Bafilimali and Kodingamali (Koraput) to the industrial houses for mining with out considering the fate of the people. “Several water sources that are coming from these places will be dried out one mining will be started. So we warned the government to refrain from uprooting the innocent people from their living”, he said.  

separate statehood may not solve the problems of western Orissa

Demand may crop up in the mind of the people to go apart from Orissa but  ‘Separate state hood’ is not at all a solution for western-Orissa. Injustice and apathy of the state government on the people of western Orissa may exist ever since the inception of the state but it can be resolved through agitation and putting pressure on the government through an active civil society. But such problems can not be solved through demanding a separate state with the same political system and same political leaders. 

This was the gist of the meeting organized by the news paper weekly ‘Bishesh Khabar’ concluded  in Sambalpur where eminent individuals and scholars delivered their opinions. Presiding over the programme titled “how to eliminate discontentment of the people of Western Orissa”, the former MP and editor of the news weekly Kharavela Swain said regional imbalance and poverty exist in Western Orissa because of poor and far-sightless political leaders of the state as well as negligent attitude of the subsequent state governments. “ A state can not go ahead in case a part it is remains neglected for years. it is the duty of the government to focus such area on priority basis. But unfortunately in Orissa such thing was not happened ”, Swain asserted.

Speaking on the occasion, the editor of ‘the Sambad’ Saumya Ranjan Patnaik said political condition of a particular region would determine its development as government machinery becomes active in that area. “If there is any discontentment it should be reflected in the general election”, Patnaik said. Patnik reiterated that discontentment of the people of the area was never reflected in the general election.     

On the other hand the eminent educationist Nayaran Pruseth said  discontentment of the people of western Orissa is the result of constant negligent attitude of the state government ever since Orissa emerged a new state on the basis of language in 1936. According to him the fate of the people of the less or under development region is determined with the far-sight and attitude of the political leaders . “But unfortunately it was not happened in the case of Orissa. Poverty and hunger exists in western part even after 70 years of formation of the state” Pruseth said. “By setting up few industries in Sundergarh and Jharsuguda and Sambalpur areas, if you say western Orissa is developing than you are totally wrong” he asserted.

But president of the Kosal Kranti Dal (KKD) Pramod Mishra disagreeing with euch opinions,said separate state for western Orissa is the only alternative as people of the region would never get justice in the present set up. "western part of the state has been neglected in each and every field. where it is education or health or in the field of road communication and other facilities, the region is always remained in the bellow of the list of priority", Mishra said.  Former administrator DK Mishra and Senior scribe Shiba Nanda were present on this occasion as guests.

On the other hand, many eminent citizens and individuals who participated in the deliberation put   stress on the need of strong political will-power in the local leadership and a strong civil society as a pressure group for the solution of the present problems of the Western Orissa.

the editor of the 'Sambad' daily Saumya Ranjan Patnaik admiited that he is a  business man  as he runs a paper industry in the state. while answaring question of some of the lawyers Patnaik confassed that he is not doing any social work by selling a mews paper in Rs.2 /-. News paper is an industry and like other industry we are doing business. Do'nt say i am doing social work. Still we are happy that we are doing some thing for the society. He said this responding the query of some lawyers  regarding the news of western Orissa that are not placed in state editions. 

Long live tree : my brother

Hundreds of female including college students have created a brotherly-bond with trees after they tie Rakhi with trees located in the Budharaja reserve forest on Monday. They also took oath to protect the trees like their own brothers. It was a part of the activities under taken by the Budharaja Jangal Surakhya samiti that works for the conservation of the Budharaja forest.

‘This is perhaps the best opportunity to create awareness among the people about the conservation of forest and protection of trees. We are fighting for the conservation of the Budharaja forest for a long time but this idea of tying ‘rakhi’ on the trees came only in the year 2008. The response becomes over whelming. This year many people including youngsters and college students have taken part in the function and they have also promised to protect the trees” eminent environmentalist Rushi Patra told

On the eve of ‘Rakhi Purnami’, the samiti organized a festival at Budharaja forest range where females and college girls have taken part spontaneously. “They also tied rakhi on the trees. After tying Rakhi, I develop a sisterly relation with trees. So I promised to protect the trees till my last breathe”, a 20 years old girl Sangita said.

Eminent citizens including former vice-chancellor of Berhampur University Prof AP Padhi and former administrator Raghunath Mishra who present on this occasion have appreciated the members of the Jangal Surakhya samiti for such a noble work to protect the forest. “It is really a noble work and idea behind this is also equally noble. I congratulate organizers and members of the Samiti for under taking this work. I am hopeful people of other parts also fellow this idea to protect their forest”, Prof AP Padhi said.

Sources said, the Budharaja hillock is located in the heart of the Sambalpur town which comprises of about 126 hectors of forest land. The forest which bears the credit of witnessing many important event of the heroic act of Veer Surendra Sai, the eminent freedom fighter of the country has converted into a barren land during 1980s and 1990s because of the constant attack of timber mafias. the ruining condition of the temple and a trench located on the hill-top which bears the memory of great fighter,      has caused wariness among the locals who took a decision to form a committee to restore the past glory of the forest.

 “Over the past 20/21 years we have again converted the forest into a total green. Now it is become difficult to find out the changes if you have not seen the condition of the forest 20 years back. I am thankful to the locals and my fellow members who converted our dream into reality’, another active member of the team Meghu Munda said.

After tying Rakhi the females behave as if they are the real protector of the jungle. “Forget of cutting a tree from the forest when the females do not allow any one to touch the tree”, Budharaja temple trust board member Loknath Panda said.

students up in arms against misconduct of the teachers

What happens when a school comprises of classes up to 7 standards having only two teachers and if they come to school in a drunkard stage? Imagine the future of the students studying in such a school who are being tortured by the teachers every day. What happens when students are asked to outside to fetch ‘gutka ‘and cigarettes from the pan shop by the teachers and in contrary they have to face severe punishment ? 
One may not believe, but exactly this was the contains of allegation of the students of the Landimal ME School under Ghosramal Panchayat of Maoist infested Naktiduel block of Sambalpur district, who came to Sambalpur on last Saturday and demanded before the district administration to replace the teachers to save the future their as they do not feel save in the hands of such teachers. 

“We have only two teachers who never teach us. One is head master and another on is junior teacher. Head master comes in a drunkard stage. He uses filthy language to scold us. The other one comes to class only to send some one to bring Safal (Gutka) and cigarette. He smokes and chews before us. We feel panic inside the school. So we have come to appealed the collector to replace such teachers from our school”, a 5^th standard student of the school Jasobant Behera said.  Other few also made similar complaint against their teachers.

Sources said, The Landamal ME School is one of the oldest schools of the region. The school has classes up the 7^th standards with about 200 boys and girls. The school has 4 teachers but last year one got transferred to other school. Another one is Sikhya Sahayak who remains on long leave.  The remaining two identified as Kishore Chandra Sahu is the head master and other one identified as Brajamohan Panda is the junior teacher. Parents and villagers tried to mend the behavior of the teachers when they came to know about their ill-treatment towards the students. But when things remain unchanged they   locked the school 14^th of this month. The school remains closed since than as no one from school department took any step to visit the village. 

“When no school authority visited the village to reopen the school which has been locked since 14^th of this month, we came to put forth our demand before the collector to save the future of our students”, a villager Tankadhar Raul said. According to him, when the villagers did not find any changes in the conduct of the teachers despite their several requests, they brought the matter before the school inspector and officials of the block.   “Finally we decided to come to Sambalpur to bring the misconduct of the teachers before the notice of the collector”, Raul said.   On the other hand, in the absent of the collector the villagers and students met the ADM (In charge) who assured them to take necessary action to solve the problem. “We met the ADM in the collector’s residence and demanded to take necessary action to remove both teachers from the school to save the students who do not feel save with them any more” another villager Mahesh Swain said.            

Supriya Mishra, wife of the Bargarh district BJD president Pravat Aditya Mishra becomes the first victim of swine flu who died VSS Medical College Hospital Burla on Wednesday. Supriya was admitted in a private nursing home at Burla couple of days back after she fell ill. A team of doctors visited the patient after her swab test confirmed positive of swine flu. The patient was than shifted to VSS Medical college hospital late in the night and kept in an isolated word for observation. She how ever died on Wednesday morning.

Source said, the death of the lady affected with swine flue has created panic in entire Burla town VSS medical authority. The Hospital authority tried make a full-proved arrangement to tackle the situation. The authority is taking step to accumulate the vaccine and medicine for the swine flu patients. “We have decided to take measure to tackle the situation”, the superintendent of the VSS medical college hospital Dr. GS Dash said.

The death of the lady in ‘swine flu’ has created panic in the Burla and near by area. Even the doctors do not feel safe inside the Hospital after the incident. How ever Hospital does not adequate vaccine for the staff and doctors. Even the hospital does not have face mask for its staff. There is also scarcity of swine flu vaccine and mask in the marker.

Ironically the incident has proved the state health minister’s home town Bargarh is also not free from swine flu. The minister who was scheduled to visit Sambalpur and Bargarh on Wednesday had to cancel his programme after a possible swine flu epidemic in the state. “I cancelled my Sambalpur and Bargarh tour on Wednesday because of my presence in Bhubaneswar. I have instructed senior heath officials to ready to tackle the situation”, Health minister Prasanna Acharya said while talking to the TOI on Wednesday.

It is a boon for the Homeopaths in Sambalpur over the past few days as people continues to purchase homeopathic medicine to prevent of ‘swine flu’ as government fails to supply adequate quantity mask and swine flu vaccine despite demands from several forums. Taking the benefit of the situation, some unscrupulous shop owners are allegedly selling the vaccine at a higher price to their reliable costumers.

“There is less supply of ‘swine flu’ vaccine injection and mask in the open market. What ever supply is there it is restricted to one and two shops. So when supply becomes less, possibility of selling at a higher price can not be ruled out. However we hope changes in the situation after supply of adequate amount of vaccine and mask in a day or two’’, an official of Drug controller office of Sambalpur said.

It may be mentioned here that Supriya Mishra, a lady patient and wife of Bargarh BJD president died in swine flu on Wednesday while undergoing treatment in VSS medical College hospital. Another 3 patients including an employee of GM College and one Sanjukta Panda of Burda village of Bargarh district have been found positive H1N1 virus in their swab tests. They have been admitted in the isolated word of VSS medical college hospital.

“The conditions of the patients are stable and treatment is under progress. We have not received any new patients so far”, a doctor of VSS medical college hospital said.

On the other hand the scarcity in the vaccine and mask in the open market has forced the people to opt for homeopathy medicine. Although experts say the homeopathy medicines that are available in the open market are meant for ‘cold fever’. But homeopathic doctors claim their medicines are quite effective in controlling swine flu. “We are giving factional doze which is quite effective in preventing ‘swine flu’. This is a disease of acute coldness”, eminent homeopath SK Dehury said. However he admits that selling of homeopathy medicine has increased because there is scarcity in allopathic medicine.

Meanwhile eminent citizens and political party leaders have urged the district administration to take adequate step to make availability of the vaccines and masks in the open markets.

cop was arrested after top officials found his link with the racket

Being the sub-inspector of the police station, he took active part during raids conducted by the Bargarh town police to crack down the inter-state four-wheelers lifting racket. He was thinking to get scot free because of his police uniform. But ultimately police arrested him and his constable brother police smelt his connection with the racket. Bargarh police arrested 9 persons including the two police personnel and recovered 20 vehicles including a passenger bus. While the police sub-inspector Pranab Pradhan is in Bargarh town police station his brother Birendra Bhusan Pradhan has been working as constable in the special branch of Bhawanipatna.

Confirming this SP (Bargarh) S. Thankappan informed media persons on Tuesday night that police action will be continued till the recovery all stolen vehicles. We did not spare any one. We arrested 9 accused including two police and recovered 20 vehicles. Verification is on to know involvement of others in the racket. We will book any one who is found to be involved in the racket”, SP said.

Police sources said, Gujarat police came with evidence in a driver murder case occurred in Nausari’s Chikhli police station area of Gujarat on June 8th where they suspected involvement of accused person residing in Sambalpur town. Sambalpur police arrested one Prema alias Rima Singh of Sakhipara who divulged many information of the racket during her interrogation. Basing on the clue and information shared by the female accused, police, while preceded into action to recover the vehicle, police gathered information about the racket that was active since a long time in the Bargarh town. Police also learnt how the racket stole the vehicle by killing the driver on the way to their proposed destination.

Police sources added that racket was mainly bringing vehicles from Rajasthan and Gujarat. The members along with a lady would book a vehicle in any travel agency identifying them as tourist couple and on the way to the destination they hacked the driver and absconded with the vehicles after throwing the dead body. They changed the colour of the vehicles, change the engine number and chassis number and managed to get a new registration numbers from the RTO office of Sundergarh and Nuapara.

“We arrested the prime accused of the racket and his associate identified as Sailendra Sharma and Tanuj Birmwal of Bargarh. While Sailendra was bringing the vehicles from out side, it was Tanuj who sells the vehicle to influential persons in a comparative cheaper price”, DSP (Bargarh) Nagendra Nayak said. According to him, Ashish Guru of Nuapara RTO office and Himansu Panda of Sundergarh RTO office were helping the two in preparing duplicate registration certificate of the vehicles. The other accused persons have been identified as Srikant Sahu of Attabira, Tejraj Pradhan of Janhapara and Panchanan Mishra of Bargarh.

Bargarh police busted the car lifting racket

Acting on the clue received from the Gujarat driver murder case occurred recently, the Police of Baragh district have cracked down a racket of four-wheelers lifter racket on Friday that was active in Bargarh area over the past few years. Police have managed to recover more than 14 vehicles including a passenger bus. Police unearthed the racket while searching the vehicle that was stolen from Gujarat. Police suspected one businessman of Bargarh town as the kingpin of the racket. However Bargarh police refused to divulge any thing detail about the case as investigation is and expected more recovery of the stolen vehicles in a day or two.

“The racket is unearthed while we made search of the vehicle that was stolen from Gujarat after the killing of the vehicle driver. Gujarat police suspected the motive behind the killing of driver was to lift the vehicle. Getting information from Nausari’s Chikhili police station of Gujarat where the dead body was recovered. The accused persons had used ATM and cell of the driver after throwing his body which helped to trace the accused persons. Our suspects centered on a lady person of Sakhipara area of Sambalpur who revealed much information on the case during her interrogation. Gujarat police took her in remand for further investigation.” inspector (crime) of Sambalpur Sanjib Satpathy said.

Sources said, police suspected one business man of Bargarh as the kingpin of the entire racket but failed to arrest as he managed to abscond before could reach him. Police have already detained 6 persons including few businessmen of Bargarh, Attabira and Barpali town who were found possessing the stolen vehicles that belong to mainly Maharastra, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Police also found that the engine number and chassis number of the vehicles have been either changed or tempered

“Since the engine number and chassis numbers of the vehicles have been tampered by the accused at present it is difficult to ascertain the origin of the vehicle still from the primary investigation it appears to be from Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharastra states. Investigation is on to nab the main culprit. We expect more recovery of stolen vehicle once we catch hold the kingpin of the racket. However at present we do not want to disclose any thing on the racket” the DIG (NR) Sambalpur RP Koche said congratulating the officials of his department who cracked down the racket.

On the other hand sources revealed that the modus-operandi of the gang was to lift the vehicle on the way after killing the driver and throwing the body in an unnoticed place. By that the lifters were getting enough time to cross the state border as it takes few days for the police to identify the dead body of the driver even it recovers immediately. With the help of RTO officials and agents they prepare duplicate registration certificate of the vehicle was prepared by tempering and changing engine number, chassis number and registration number. They sell the vehicle to an influential person in a comparatively cheaper price. Most important part of the racket was utilizing service of female to build trust in the mind of travel agency. While going to book vehicle they take female member with them posing them wife and husband to avoid doubt in the mind of the travel agent. Once they get the vehicle the prime aim was to kill the driver and take the vehicle. “After interrogation of the lady that arrested recently we came to know how the gang was operating cunningly utilizing the female in this nefarious trade”, police inspector Satpathy said.

they killed the child for witnessing their illicit affairs

It costs life to a six year boy for accidently witness the illicit relation of his neighbor lady with her paramount. His fault was that he came out with the truth before his parents and other people. Such a heinous incident of killing an innicent child was taken place in Bhikhampur under Sasan police station limits which made public only after confession of the accused persons leading the police to recover the skeleton body of child on Thursday. The accused persons including the husband of the lady had thrown the dead body of the child after throttling him 10 days back. A missing complaint was lodged by the police than. Police identified the skeleton body belongs to one Jitu Meher (6) who went missing since 28th June.

“We arrested one Hrusikesh after we suspected his hand in killing the child. During interrogation, he had confessed every thing. He along with his wife and her paramount hatched a plan to eliminate the child after he witnessed the illicit relation of his wife. Accused Hrusikesh led us to the spot where  skeleton body of the child was recovered”, SDPO (Sambalpur) D K Deo said.

Sources said, deceased a 6 years old child, the only son of Tapobanta Meher of Sonepur’s Dhanbasha village was residing  in  Bipin Meher's house in Bhikhampur after they moved to the village few months ago.  The other side of the house was let out to Hrusikesh Behera allies Theki of Bijadihi who was residing with his wife and son. Both Tapobanta and Hrusikesh were engaged as daily wage earner.

Recently Hrusikesh underwent a surgical treatment for which he got financial help from Pintu Mehra, a poultry farm owner of the village. Because of the help, Pintu was bit closed to the Hrusikesh family. Pintu developed illicit relation with Hrusikesh’s wife after he started visiting the house. Hrusikesh kew it but remained silent because of the financial help. But this thing came to the knolwdge of the villagers when deceaed  narrated before his parents and other villagers . “It made them angry and they decided to kill the boy in order to take revenge on him”, SDPO Deo said. They hatched a plan and cunningly took the boy to near by jungle where they throttling him to death and dumped the body inside a ditch., police officer added.

caste and community make no barrier during divine union

People may not accept Inter-caste and inter-community marriage in their family, but when it is the case of Lord Shiva such thing is hardly come as a barrier as people gladly accept it with out any hesitation. Society sees nothing wrong in Lord’s marriage in any caste or in any community. Every one participates happily to enjoy the event.  In ‘Sital Sasthi’ festival that concluded on Friday one becomes parent of Maa Parvati no matter in which caste or community he belongs to.  

Lord Shiva Baba Somnath of Jharuapara got married in a Bania house as the kanyapita (bride’s father) of Jharuapara Yatra committee Prahallad Agrawal belongs to bania (Marwari) community and lord Shiva Baba sitaleswar got married in a Rajput house as Kanyapita of Badbazar Yatra committee belongs to (Rajput) Gujarati community. Like wise Lord Shiva of Modipara Jageswar baba got married in a Dora caste as the kanyapita of Modipara Jatra committee Akhayay Dora belongs to Dora caste. Only Lord Shiva Bam Barad balunkeswar of Nandapara got married in the same caste as the kanyapita (bride’s father) Himansu Sekhar Nanda belongs to Brahmin community.

“We hardly think of the caste and community of the applicant when we select him as kanyapita of maa Parvati. Earlier convention was to confine it with the community. But showily with the change of time we have expanded it as god does not belong to any particular community or caste”, Saroj Dalpat, president of Jharuapara Yatra committee said.

In the week long festival the center point is that goddess Parvati becomes the daughter a human being who performs the marriage like his own daughter with all possible rituals and customs. When father of lord Shiva is fixed and it is performed by a family in generation, father (kanyapita) of goddess Parvati changes every year. Yatra committees decide it from among the applicants. Yatra is mainly organized in three temples of Jharuapara, Nandapara and Modipara. But over the past few year youths of several other places including Badbazar, Thakurpara and Budharaja have taken initiatives to begin Yatra in their respective places.  

 On the other hand the Yatra committees have switched over to folk and cultural programmes to attract the people after administration decided not to allow vulgarity in the festival. The Bihu of Assam and Bhagra of Punjab and folkdance of Chhattisgarh were main attraction in the festival.  

Sital Sasthi goes with out eunuchs this year

 Thousands of visitors and devotees have deprived of getting the glimpse of the Hinjra (eunuchs) this year, as the various Jatra committees did not allow them to take part in the famous sital Sasthi festival concluded in Sambalpur on Friday as they do not feel comfortable with their growing demand day by day.   Clad with modern attire and with heavy made up faces eunuchs used to dance with sole and heart with the beat of dhols and dulduli during the celestial union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati every year. Eunuchs feel the divine union “ardhanariswar” as their icon.

‘We know their importance in the Sital sasthi festival. They have been a part of the festival over the past many years.  But this year we did not allow them to take part in the street procession as we do not feel comfortable with them. The growing professionalism and modern fashionable attitude generates a bed trend in the festival”, convener of the Sital Sasthi coordination committee Amulya Mishra said.

Earlier the eunuchs come to take part with a pious motive as they feel union of lord Shiva and Parvati as ardhanariswar.   They have to content with the food and accommodation provided by the organizers.  But off late with the effect of modern attire and costume eunuchs become money mongers and slowly they become a burden for the organizers.

“Previously they do not have any demand.   But over the past few years they started charging for their participation. They want money individually which becomes a burden for us financially. So we have forced to delete them from the festival” president of the Jharuapara Yatra committee Saroj Dalpat said.

 Sital Sasthi, the famous mobile carnival that commemorates the marriage ceremony of lord Shiva with Parvati was concluded on Friday evening with the return of newly married couple to their respective mandirs after a hectic street procession.  Ever since the festival begins in Sambalpur, eunuch (Hinjra) from across the country takes part in the festival as they considered the union of lord shiva and Parvati as their icon.

According to estimation the festival houses of more than one thousand eunuchs especially from Balangir, Puri, Sudergarh, Ganjam and other part of the state used to take part in the festival organized by various Yatra Committees. Even high profile eunuchs from Raipur and Mumbai have also come to take part in the festival. But they have to return back after the decision of Jharusapara and Nandapara Yatra committees which considered as pioneer of the festival. This year only few eunuchs were seen in Badbazar Yatra. “We allowed because they had all ready arrived. However we told them not to pay anything except accommodation and food” president of the Badbazar Yatra committee Sanjib Nanda said. 

On the other hand, senior members of the town feel happy with such a decision by the organizing committees. “Sital Sasthi is unthinkable with out eunuchs. But now time has come to delete them because they become root of the nuisance that occurs during Yatra. More over possibility of sexual transmitted diseases (STDs) can not be ruled out among youths and adolescents because they become   tempted with the modern attire and costumes of eunuchs and keep sexual relation with the eunuchs”

 Prafulla Hota of Sambalpur said. 

photo exhibition of Nandini Satpathy: an event to know our past

 It was an event where people got an opportunity to witness glimpse of the various important developments that carried in Orissa during 1970s. They also got an idea about the importance of Orissa in the national level during that period.  How a politician makes the state important in the national level because of his/her ability and personality.  How spiritualism becomes necessary for a politician to act judiciously.

Yes, from the photo exhibition that was organized at Sambalpur on former chief minister of Orissa, Nandini Satpathy on her 79^th birth anniversary, one can draw a simple idea about the political situation of the state during that period.  When the demand of woman’s reservation in politics was not even conceived in the mind of politicians, how a lady went to that height in politics during that time and took historical decision on land reform and land ceiling in the state. When it becomes difficult for our male politicians to mingle with their party chief, the photographs show that she was well conversed with than prime minister Indira Gandhi.

 “It is a delighted moment for me to refresh my memory of the past through this photo exhibition. I am thankful to the organizer for such a noble idea. At least the youngster of the present time would able to know the glorious past of the state and about the position of the state in the national level” eminent lyricist Binod Pasayat said while inaugurating the photo exhibition at town hall of Sambalpur on Wednesday.

“To know our past we have to organize such exhibition. At least we will able to refresh our memory through such programme. We will also give a rough idea about the past to our younger generation by showing these photographs” social worker Sudhir Pujari said. 

In the exhibition, hundreds of photograph related to the life history of Nandini Devi was depicted which draws a rough idea about her family life, about her political life, about her spiritual life, about her natural life. The photographs show how she was tough while taking decision and how she was cool and affectionate while mixing with people and villagers.  Her photograph with ‘Khairi’, the tigress that was kept by a forest officer at Mayurbhanj was amazing which shows her compassion and love towards animal.                    

Sital Sasthi : a festival of 400 years old tradition

The Sital Sasti is a 400 years old festival. Nobody knows when the festival begins in Sambalpur but the documents available with the temple of Lord Balunkeswar of Nandapara which was built in 1765 by than king Ajit Singh with the help of his army chief Akber Ray speaks the truth on the festival as Sital Sasti was performed in Sambalpur much prior to the construction of the temple. During that time it was organized with the royal patronage. 

According to the senior member of the society the festival has a long tradition in Sambalpur and the town is known else where because of the festival. It can not be exactly described when the festival was started in Sambalpur. But as per the tradition, I remember as the ancestor of Dibyasingh Mishra, the first trustee of the temple, we have been performing the role of      barapita (groom’s father) ,ever since the festival started in Sambalpur’s Nandapara” 86 years old Sarat Chandra Mishra said.

Historian said festival was started in 16^th century in a simple form at Samiya temple at Balibandha. According to historian, the festival was started to commemorate the victory of Athargadajat (18 garhs) by than Sambalpur king Baliyar Singh. Sambalpur was than dominated by Marathas. Brahmins were confined to warship of lords and no scope for commoner to enter the temple. With a grand procession on the street, the common man gets an opportunity to see lord.

“Subsequently the festival was organized at Bhubaneswari temple at Ramsagar bnadh. But that time the Brahmins of Sambalpur confined to Jharuapara and they were origin from Uttar Pradesh. They constructed Somnath temple at Jharuapara and began the marriage ceremony” eminent historian Gobind Narayan Agrawal argued. According to him, Brahmins from Puri were subsequently brought by the Royal family to counter local Brahmins. With the royal patronage the marriage ceremony was also started at Nandapara where a temple was constructed in the name of Balunkeswar.  

The Brahmin resides in Jharuapara is known as ‘Aranyak’ and Brahmin resides in Nandapara is known as “Utkaliya”. Though people of both places are socially and culturally powerful still there is a socio-cultural difference among them because of their different origins. “The sense of ‘rivalry’ and competitive mentality is perhaps the secret behind the festival that has been organized every year uninterruptedly”, said senior educationist Prof KC Panda.  

The centre point of the festival is that here goddess Parvati becomes the daughter a human being who performs the marriage like his own daughter with all possible rituals and customs. When father of lord Shiva is fixed and it is performed by a family in generation, father (kanyapita) of goddess Parvati changes every year. Yatra committees decide it from among the applicants.

Yatra is mainly organized in three temples of Jharuapara, Nandapara and Modipara. But over the past few year youths of several other places including Badbazar, Thakurpara and Budharaja have taken initiatives to begin Yatra in their respective places. “

The faith and believe among the locals to become the kanyapita to earn a berth in heaven makes the festival more popular. “My husband was seriously ill during 2004. We left his hope. We wished to perform the marriage of Parvati and he slowly recovered” Bisnupriya, wife of Himansu Sekher Nanda , Kanyapita of this year’s Nandapara Yatra committee said.  I do not have daughter so I intended to perform this. I am happy to become the father of maa Parvati this year, the kanyapita of Modipara Yatra Committee Akhyay Kumar Dora of Modipara said 

even marriage could not make them apart: lover couple commit suicide in Jharsuguda

She did not want to live apart from her lover even though her family managed to tie her knot with another one. Ultimately she agreed to die with him. Both consumed poison and killed themselves. At least now society can not separate them. Such an incident happened in real live in Lokhanpur block of Jharsuguda district on Wednesday. Villagers felt sorry for them when they found the dead bodies of the both lovers outside the village who died consuming poison. Police registered a case and sent the body of autopsy.

“Both loved each others passionately. But society did not recognize their love as they belong to different caste. Finally with the suggestion of the villager, girl’s parents conducted her marriage at Himgir (Sundergarh) just 10 days back. They did not create any scene then. We though they would forget each other after the marriage. But they proved they real loved pair. We felt sorry for both”, a senior member of the Saa family said.                       

Sources said, one Pravin Saa (28) of Debjharan village under Rengali police station of Jharsuguda district was having love affair with Lotika Munda, 22 years old girl belong to tribal community of the same village. They wanted to marry each other but it was not so easy for them. Even their society did not approve it. With the suggestion of the villagers, Lotika’s marriage was solemnized with Budhhadev Munda of Sundergarh district recently.

“The girl was sent off to her in-law house after the marriage. Every one was happy. On Tuesday she came to the village for the first time with her husband. But in the night she left for her destiny with her lover leaving every one. They went about a km away where they consumed poison’, another villager said.

“A case has been registered after sending dead bodies for autopsy”, SDPO (Brajarajnagar) SK Panigrahi said. 

7 years girls takes Sambalpur collector to High Court

A 7 year girl has filed a case against the Sambalpur collector in the court of hon’ble high court alleging him responsible for loss of her one academic year after she was refused to get admission in the central school. Collector has recommended her for admission but subsequently he allegedly refused her case recommending another one in her place. As per central school provision, Collector as the chairman of school management has power to recommend admission of two students every year.

“I have done nothing wrong as it is my privilege to recommend two students of my choice. I did as per the provision. There were as many as 5 applicants but I have to select only two. So one can under stand my problem”, collector (Sambalpur) H K Dash said.       

Sources said, Ipisita Sarangi, a 7 years girl was recommended by the previous collector P K Patnaik vide his letter no 1412 of 30/9/2009 for admission in the local central school in standard 2 in the academic year 2010-11. But after his transfer, Ipsita’s father approached before the present collector once again and got recommendation from him for the same vide office letter no. 27 of 09/01/2010.

“I was sure about her admission in KV after getting recommendation of the present collector on the basis of the recommendation of his predecessor. So I did not try any where. But to my utter surprised the present collector, recommended two fresh names deleting the name of my daughter. When I enquired he refused to give any reasons of such changing stating it was his prerogative”, Ipsita’s father Kishore Kumar Sarangi said.   

Sources said, collector made a fresh recommendation vide his office order no.456 of 6^th April 2010 where he recommitted Sambit Mahapatra and Aditya Koche for admission in 2^nd and 4^th standard as his first and second choice respectively suspending his earlier instruction in this regard. While Aditya is the son a senior police officer, Sambit is the son of an employee of a vernacular daily published from Bhubaneswar recently.

When both central and state governments are trying to encourage female education in every spear, here a girl child lost one academic year for just because of wrong decision of a collector. “I wound have done something had he told me about his compulsion. I wound not have taken the matter before the high court”, Kishore added. Meanwhile the high court admitting the case of the Ipisata, has issued notice to the collector.  

Bargarh police busted inter-district fake currency racket

In a major break through, Bargarh police busted a racket that was active in circulating fake currency in the district. Police seized huge quantity of fake currency along with the manufacturing unit from village Sahajbahal under Binka police station of Sonepur district on Wednesday night. Police arrested 3 persons including the kingpin of the nefarious trade from his house who identified as Biswamitra Mahananda. The other two accused were Josobanta Majhi of Mahulbahali and Anang @ Ajay sagaria of Gunesh village, both under Tureleka police station of Bolangir district.  Police describing it a major achievement, apprehended arrest of few more persons shortly.

“It is a major achievement for the Bargarh Police. We have so far have seized fake currency of Rs.1, 25,650.00 of 1000/500/100 and 50 denominations. We have also seized colour Xerox machine, colour scanner, printer, chemicals and JK excel bond paper 1000 piece, huge nos of currency notes under preparation. We have arrested 3 persons including the master mind Biswamitra. But we apprehend involvement of few other persons in the trade”, deputy Superintendent of police (Bargarh) Nagendra Nayak said

Police sources said, acting on a tip off, police nabbed on Anang @ Ajay Sagaria of Turekela rencely with fake currency while he was circulating it Bargarh town. Police seized 4 fake currencies from him. From him police found the identity of one Josobanta Majhi of Bolangir. Both described them as agent of Biswamitra.

After getting information about the kingpin, one of our officers Dilip Swain went to the village of Biswamitra, identifying himself as Iswar Sharma, a trader of Sohela and intended to purchase fake currency. When Viswamitra came with fake currency, we came from the hide out and arrested him. On search we found the manufacturing unit of the fake currency that was functioning in his house  

On interrogation the culprits disclosed of having training in Andhra Pradesh to learn the technique of preparing fake currency. The Rs 1000 rupee series are OAL 833060,61,436417,833054,833057,833059,833062,Rs 100 rupee series,5HF228572,6BUJ 525713,6BU 071775,6BU 071 776,8LE 619325,Rs 500 rupee series 4 DU 241484,2KW 369413,2 AN 541079.

man beheaded his sister-in-law over family feud in Deogarh

The man that beheaded his sister-in-law in Tinkbir village in Deogarh’s Reamal police station limits was sent for medical examination of Thursday. During preliminary investigation police found the incident was no way connected with the alleged black magic of the deceased but with the sudden provocation of the killer over the dispute between the two in connection with a land dispute. Police came to know about this from the two eye witnesses present at the time of the incident.

“The man came to the police station on Wednesday evening with the chopped head and axe after hacking his sister-in-law in order to surrender before the police soon after he committed the crime. He roughly covered a distance of 10 km to reach the police station. He confessed that he killed his sister-in-law because he fell ill because of her black magic. But I was surprised how he walked such a long distance, when he was ill”, the IIC of the Reamal police station Antaryamee Behera said.

According to Behera, when the police team reached the spot     where the headless body of the lady was found in a pool of blood was the disputed land located half a km from the village.  The lady identified as Khiradini (45) was looking after the land of her husband after later’s death. A mango tree that covered the land of the lady was preventing her from farming. So she wanted to cut few braches of the tree. But the accused Kantaru Sahu (55) was not interested as it fetches huge quantity of mango.

“Wednesday evening the lady went to the field along with one Khirendra and Goutam. When Khirendra was cutting off the braches, Gautam was under the tree to help Khirendra. At that time accused Kanraru Sahu came and he became furious. With sudden provocation he attacked the lady and chopped off her head”, Inspector Behera said.

“Both Khirendra and Goutam had seen the incident as they were present. After interrogating both, I came to know the exact situation that led the man to hack his sister-in-law”, IIC Reamal Behera said. 

According to the police accused made a false story of black magic to mislead the police after hacking the lady.  Accused will be forwarded on Friday u/s 302 IPC.  

Administration banned vulgar dance during Sital Sasti

thousands of visitors especially youngsters might be disappointed  not to see the sizzling and erotic dance performed by the girls of South India during the week-long   Sital Sasti festival  of Sambalpur , this year as the administration says no to vulgar and obscene dance during the festival. The administration took this decision in the coordination meeting of the sital Sasti held in the collector’s conference hall on Wednesday.  The administration has suggested the respective festival committee to include more folk and cultural items replacing the obscene dances. Sital Sasti, the biggest socio-cultural festival that commemorates marriage ceremony of Lord Shiva with Maa Parvati is also considered the longest celebration on wheels. The festival that begins this year from June 12^th will be concluded on 18^th with the entering of the newly married couple to their respective shrines. 

To make the festival successful, a preparatory meeting was organized under the chair of the collector on Wednesday where besides the office-bearers of the various Yatra committees, officials of various government departments were also present. “From our side we are ready to provide all sorts of cooperation to make the festival successful. But we also want the respective yatra committee to ensure no vulgar and obscene dance during the festival as it sends a wrong massage on the sacred festival”, collector HK Dash said.  “I am hopeful the Yatra committees would maintain the dignity and sanctity of the festival”, collector Dash said. However he seemed firm on it when few members expressed reluctant over it.             

On the other hand, members of various Yatra committees have assured to the administration to take utmost care to include more and more folk arts and culture in the festival to make it attractive and creditable. “We have no interest to encourage vulgar and obscene dances in the festivals but we do it because of the people’s demand. We are trying to include more cultural troupes and folk arts to make the festival attractive and watch worthy.”, the chairman of the Sital Sati coordination committee Amulya Mishra said. “We have decided to concentrate on folk and culture this year to make the festival clean” secretary of the Badbazar Yatra committee Dibakar Patnaik said.

The century-old festival is primarily observed by two groups named Jharuapara’s Aranyak committee and and Nandapara’s Utkaliya committee. But presently another 3 committees of Modipara, Badbazar and Thakurpara have also been observing the same in their respective places. “No one knows the actual dates when the festival was started in Sambalpur. But from the government records and other documents it is ascertained that the festival was organized in the 16^th century with the patronage of than royal family”, eminent pleader Govind Narayan Agrawal said.