Vigilance arrests R&B engineer in DA case
Bhubaneswar: The Vigilance police on Friday arrested Udhab Padhy, Deputy Executive Engineer, R&B Sub-Division, Gunupur, for allegedly possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. According to reports, Padhy was found in possession of assets worth Rs 1.13 crore. Vigilance officials had on Thursday carried out simultaneous searches at his triple-storied residential building at Kamapalli, Brahmapur, his business unit at Dharakote, his office and Government quarter at Gunupur and a flat in Puri.
Biraja Temple to reopen on Dec 29
Jajpur: The Maa Biraja Temple in Jajpur district would reopen on December 29. Special guidelines have been drawn as per the Covid-19 protocols for the opening of the temple, Jajpur Collector Chakravarti Singh Rathore said on Friday. Both male and women devotees can enter the temple through the Lion Gate. Devotees would be allowed to enter the shrine for darshan from 6 am to 5 pm, However, no marriage rituals will be allowed in the temple. Following the opening of the Birja Temple, decision would be taken to reopen other religious institutions, said Rathore.
Debashish in senior national selection panel
Bhubaneswar: Debashish Mohanty is among three former India speedsters, the other two being Chetan Sharma and Abey Kuruvilla, has been added to the senior national selection panel.
Khordha Women’s College foundation day celebrated
Khordha: The 40th foundation of Khordha Women’s College was celebrated here on December 21 adhering to the Covid-19 guidelines. Chief guest Khordha MLA Jyotinendra Mitra spoke about the importance of foundation day and the college. Khordha Sub-Collector Manoj Kumar Padhi, who presided over the function, urged everybody to work for the development of the institution. College Principal Bijaylaxmi Das gave an account of the various activities of the college. While Lecturer Kabita Kumar Swain introduced the guests, Lecturer Sasmita Mallik delivered a vote of thanks.
31 Sal logs seized in G’pati; truck seized
Paralakhemundi: Of late, the timber mafia has become active in the Mohana area of Gajapati district. They are cutting down many costly trees and smuggling them out of the district. The Forest Department have seized 31 Sal logs from near Chadiapada village by intercepting a Tata 407 truck. The timber was being transported to Badapada in Ganjam district. But the smugglers managed to escape from the spot. The estimated value of the seized timer is about Rs 80,000, informed Paralakhemundi DFO Sangram Keshari Behera. The forest officials have lodged a case and are investigating into it.
Ganja seized in Kandhamal; 2 arrested
Phulbani: A record amount of seizure of ganja was made at Kalipanga under the Phiringa police station in Kandhamal district on Thursday. A total of 21kg and 725 grams of the contraband was seized. Two accused, Paika Sahu from Kalipanga and Bidura Nayak from Palaspadar under the Sadar excise jurisdiction, were arrested.
Massive fire breaks out in Rourkela tyre godown
Rourkela: A massive fire broke out in a tyre godown in the Rahmat Nagar slum at Sector-21 here in wee hours on Friday. Properties worth lakhs of rupees were gutted. The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained. Three firefighting teams rushed to the spot and doused the flames. Around 300 families residing in the slum were saved from the fire.