Student hurt in Subarnapur poll violence crossfire SATURDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2012 01:44 PNS | BALANAGIR HITS: 17

Student hurt in Subarnapur poll violence crossfire
SATURDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2012 01:44
PNS | BALANAGIR
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Only a few days after the murder of a ward member contestant Ekadasia Majhi in Bairsar panchayat in Puintala block of Balangir district and with the first phase of the panchayat election set to take place on Saturday, a school student was seriously injured in poll-related violence at village Kamsara in Tarbha block of Subarnapur district, 35 km from here, on Friday morning.
According to reports, Dileshwar Bibhar (15), a Class-X student of Kamsara High School, was returning home after attending his tuitions when he was caught in the midst of a shootout.
“I was returning home after attending tuition class. There was a clash going on there. I was shot at from a small pistol, and I cannot say who shot at me. However, all the involved people are my villagers,” said Dileshwar.
In the area, Mandakini Bibhar and Rita Nag are contesting against each other for panchyat samiti member post. According to reports, there was a clash between the supporters of Mandakini and Rita at the village chowk, in which some people sustained injuries.
Dileshwar, who was brought to the Balangir district hospital, was later shifted to the VS Medial College Hospital at Burla for further treatment, said ADMO (Medical) Dr Dora to this correspondent.
Subarnapur SP Dasarathi Nayak has rushed to the spot of the violence.

Madhuri given rousing reception in Balangir Wednesday, 08 February 2012 22:45 PNS | BALANGIR Hits: 3

Madhuri given rousing reception in Balangir
Wednesday, 08 February 2012 22:45
PNS | BALANGIR
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Madhuri Mehta, the young woman cricketer of Balangir who has been selected as one of the members of the Indian women’s cricket team to play five T-20 matches in West Indies, was given a rousing welcome here on Wednesday.
“I am elated at the overwhelming response and blessings of the people of Balangir. I shall try to achieve more,” Madhuri said in response to the reception.
Asked to comment on what needs to be done for development of women cricket in Balangir, Madhuri underlined the need of a gymnasium first.
“This is the result of hard work of Madhuri and blessings of the people of Balangir. I would like to thank the senior cricketers of Balangir, and especially the District Athletic Association and Nari Bhai,” said Madhuri’s coach Arun Nayak who started coaching women cricketers five years ago. “Opening batting and fielding is the major strength of Madhuri,” Nayak added.
Madhuri, who was accompanied by her parents, Pradeep Mehta and Ahuti Mishra, was given a huge welcome at a meeting at the town hall by different sports associations, District Athletic Association and other organisations.
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Candidate’s murder: Balangir answers bandh call by Cong TUESDAY, 07 FEBRUARY 2012 22:49 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 3 User Rating: / 0

Candidate’s murder: Balangir answers bandh call by Cong
TUESDAY, 07 FEBRUARY 2012 22:49 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 3
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A Balangir bandh call given by the Chhatra Congress demanding a high-level inquiry into the murder of Ekadasia Majhi of village Thapapali in Balangir district was answered on Tuesday.

Ekadasia Majhi, who was a candidate for the ward member’s post in Bairsar panchayat, was killed recently. Government offices, schools, banks and civil courts were closed due to the bandh. “We gave this bandh call demanding a high-level inquiry into the killing of Ekadasia Majhi and a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to his family members. The people have fully supported the bandh,” said president of Youth Congress’ Balangir Assembly constituency unit Prem Prakash Mishra.

Members of the student Congress, including its district president B Sumit Prabhakar, along with Asim Pattnaik and Kailash Mishra staged a dharna before the district Collectorate demanding fulfilment of their demands. Later, they submitted a memorandum to the district administration in this regard.

All the four accused mentioned in the FIR relating to the Ekadasia Majhi case have been arrested and forwarded to the court, said local ASP Srikant Mishra. Further investigation is on, Mishra added.

30 houses set ablaze in Balangir clash MONDAY, 23 JANUARY 2012 22:05 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 4 User Rating: / 0

30 houses set ablaze in Balangir clash
MONDAY, 23 JANUARY 2012 22:05 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 4
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In a shocking fallout of a personal flare-up between two youth at a dress shop over price, a group of OBC youth set ablaze the houses of SCs at the Lathore village under Khaprakhol police station, turning a total number of 30 houses to ashes on Sunday evening.

Tension prevailed in the area following the incident, forcing the police and the civil administration of the district rushing to the spot and controlled the situation. About 150 affected people have been sheltered in a relief camp with the police keeping guard.

According to reports, an SC youth, Ganesh Suna, had gone to purchase shirt to a shop owned by one Budu Meher. There were Daya Meher and Bharat Meher present at the shop. As Ganesh kept haggling over the price, an argument ensued between Daya and Bharat on one side and Ganesh on the other.

While the salesmen demanded more money as he had chosen two shirts, Ganesh refused to pay. After this, the salesmen alleged that he had stolen a shirt and demanded more money.

As the squabble continued, both the Mehers allegedly assaulted Ganesh with a dress hanger. Insulted Ganesh left and returned immediately with four others and mounted a counter assault.

As a result, Daya Meher sustained injuries. Following this, the shop owners closed the shop. Daya and Bharat rushed to Ganesh’s basti with supporters and torched the houses of the SC people. When the police and firefighters tried to reach the spot, irate mobs prevented them.

The police arrested 42 people in this connection and five cases have been registered so far. According to ASP Srikant Mishra.

IG RP Koche, Balangir SP R Prakash and district Collector SN Dey visited the spot on Sunday night with the SP camping there.

Addressing mediapersons on Monday in Balangir senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra described the incident as “unfortunate” and criticised police inaction.

“The police could have prevented the entire incident,” Mishra said and demanded action against the police official responsible for it.

“The affected families should be given an assistance of Rs 2 lakh and a house under Indira Awas Yojna each.”

W’Odisha migrant workers to miss voting in panchayat polls SUNDAY, 22 JANUARY 2012 22:51 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 5 User Rating: / 0

W’Odisha migrant workers to miss voting in panchayat polls
SUNDAY, 22 JANUARY 2012 22:51 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 5
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A large number of people from around ten districts of western Odisha are likely to be deprived of casting their votes in the upcoming panchayat poll as they are out of their native villages and working as daily wage earners in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Mostly these people fall in the SC/ST category. Extremely poor as they are, they migrate to outside States to earn their livelihood. Basically, they are made to do hard labour in the most inhospitable brick kilns of those States for six months or more in a year.

“Due to turmoil in Andhra Pradesh over the Telangana issue, cyclone in Tamil Nadu and continuous raids by police on the labourer contractors, distress migration has slowed down in western Odisha,” says Bhajaram Sahu of Janamukti Anusthan of Bongomunda, who informed that around 40,000 people have already migrated from Balangir to work in the brick kilns of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and other distant places.

This year drought has hit the farmers hard. Earlier, these farmers who used to be self-sufficient in meeting their food requirements from production in their farms are purchasing it from open markets now, which indicates their economic vulnerability has increased this year. With no work available, there would be more migration this year, predicts Jatin Patra of NGO Adhikar.

“The situation in neighbouring Nuapda district is also the same. More than 30,000 voters from the district have migrated and maximum number of people migrated from Sinapali. These tribal people went to distance places like Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad and Mumbai, Raipur and Bhilai as they did not get job under MNREGS projects in their villages,” says Ajit Panda of Khadial Vikash Manch of Khariar.

In Paikmal Sub-Division of Bargarh district, continuous migration of people from Paikmal, Gaiselete and Jharbandh blocks is going to affect the poll process too. According to a recent survey by Samuhik Marudi Pratikar Udyam, Padampur, around 14,000 people of 107villages, including 9,000 voters, have already migrated from the district to outside States in search of jobs, informs Fakira Rout.

About 400 youth from Thuaamul Rampur block migrated to work in rubber plantation areas and different farm houses of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, says chairman of Antodoya Dilip Das.

The Government should streamline the implementation of NREGS and take steps to ensure timely payment of wages to the people which would go a long way in checking migration during the crucial time and help them participate in the election, says Ajit Panda.

Madhuri Meheta in national woman cricket squad

Madhuri Meheta in national woman cricket squad
Bhubaneswar: Odisha's opener Madhuri Meheta got a berth in the probable lists of the national woman cricket team. The National Women's Selection Committee announced a twenty players name at the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, Indore on Saturday for the India's tour of the West Indies, in February-March 2012.
The players are Mithali Raj, Amita Sharma, Sulakshana Naik, Jhulan Goswami, Anjum Chopra, Veda Krishnamurthy, Harmanpreet Kaur, Archana Das, Diana David, Nooshin-Al-Khadeer, Sunitha Anand, Madhuri Mehta (Odisha Cricket Association), Mandira Mahapatra, S. Asha, Ekta Bist, Gauhar Sultana, Rumeli Dhar, Poonam Raut, Mamta Kanojia and Subhlaxmi Sharma among which the final squad will be picked up.

Master Coaches to train Cong workers in Balangir SUNDAY, 15 JANUARY 2012 22:53 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 3 User Rating: / 0 PoorBest

Master Coaches to train Cong workers in Balangir
SUNDAY, 15 JANUARY 2012 22:53 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 3
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With a view to infusing young blood and talent to the Congress from the grassroots level, the selection of Master Coaches is underway in the State.

This was stated to mediapersons by newly-elected president of Lok Sabha Constituency of Indian Youth Congress Akash Mishra at the Congress Bhavan here on Saturday.

Earlier the office-bearers of the Youth Congress were usually nominated. However, under the directives of party MP Rahul Gandhi, the selection of Master Coaches has been started wherein anybody having talent and expertise can apply for the posts, Mishra said.

Those who want to be Master Coaches should be of at least 30 years of age and have a working experience of minimum five years in the party or its frontal organisations besides knowledge of Hindi and English and computer, he said.

“We are going to accept applications till January 24, and on January 25 there will be selection of the candidates at Bhawanipatna. The shortlisted candidates are again scheduled to be interviewed at Sambalpur and have to go through the selection process, group discussions and interviews by representatives of the Youth Congress,” Mishra said.

In the days ahead, the Youth Congress would raise the issues of neglect of agriculture, absence of industries and migration in the Balangir district and fight to oust the BJD Government from the State, Mishra said further.