Minister for North Bengal Development Department (NBDD) Rabindranath Ghosh has that another annex building will be constructed on a vacant plot of land near the mosque on Asian Highway-II at Uttarkanya in Silguri. According to him, engineers will soon begin a spot verification with a detailed project report (DPR) of the project, which is ready, official sources said.

With a view to accommodating more departments, with joint secretaries in them at Uttarknaya, officials have long felt the need to add an extra building or buildings on the premises of the state government’s north Bengal branch secretariat at Kamrangaguri here. However, there is no vacant land on the branch secretariat premises.

It may be mentioned here that a temporary truck stand was shifted two years ago from the mosque area, following intervention of chief minister Mamata Banerjee. It was proposed that the Siliguri Metropolitan Police (SMP) will construct its barracks there. However, the construction of the boundary wall there stopped mid-way following a case in the Calcutta High Court.

“The case has been vacated and that plot of land now belongs to the state,” Mr Ghosh said, adding, “We need to ready the annex building there soon to accommodate more departmental joint secretaries. We are facing accommodation crisis here. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee may ask us to set up more departments at Uttarkanya any day.”

Notably, the present main building of Uttarkanya has no more space left where officials could build extensions, according to the engineering section at Uttarkanya.

The 8th tripartite meeting on wage revision for tea workers ended inconclusively at Uttarkanya on Friday. No resolution was also adopted on the issue of traditional ration system, which was stopped after the state started distributing food grains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). State labour minister Moloy Ghatak said that the next tripartite meeting will be held in the second week of February to discuss interim wages, traditional ration system, and minimum wages for workers.

Though Mr Ghatak requested trade unions to accept the interim relief of Rs 17.50 with effect from 1 January 2018, trade unions belonging to the Joint Forum did not accept the proposal. The Forum announced that hundreds of workers will stage a demonstration on this issue and serve a memorandum to the Commissioner of the Jalpaiguri Division, Barun Ray, at Uttarkanya on 24 January. Trade unions belonging to the Trinamul Congress have accepted the proposal and termed it a positive step. According to Mr Ghatak, the planters have accepted, in principle, the proposal.

Talking to reporters, Mr Ghatak said: “Discussions on the minimum wages are going on. We generally execute a three-year wage agreement for tea workers. The last agreement expired on 31 March 2017. We proposed an interim relief of Rs 17.50 to increase the remuneration from Rs 132.50 to Rs 150 with effect from 1 January 2018.” “We would discuss the traditional ration system and its monetary value which will be added to tea workers’ wages,” he added, adding that the next meeting will be held after the budget session in the Assembly.

Echoing the minister, Trinamul Congress-backed trade union leader Prabhat Mukherjee said: “The state has taken positive steps for interim relief. Planters have also agreed to accept it, while it was also discussed that the planters will start distributing ration whenever distribution under the NFSA stops.” “As the state government’s labour department has expressed the industry’s readiness to abide by the interim hike of Rs 17.50 with effect from 1st January 2018 we urged the government to ensure that the garden management does not face any problem of industrial relations,” said secretary general of the Tea Association of India (TAI), PK Bhattacharya.

“With regard to transfer of value of food grains received under the NFSA, the industry maintained that food grains as a component can only be discussed under the minimum wages advisory committee meetings.” Asked to comment, the spokesperson for the Joint Forum, Ziaul Alam, said: “The state government was trying hard to enforce the interim relief Rs 17.50. We asked the minister why it was not implemented easily despite the government’s order. We informed the state that the interim relief must be uniform and that a decision would be taken unanimously.

Interim relief must be taken into consideration for workers as well as other staff and sub-staffs in tea plantations.” “Secondly, interim relief should be considered for tea workers, who are working in the Terai, Dooars and the Hills. But the garden managements in Darjeeling Hills have not yet agreed to pay the relief,” Mr Alam claimed. “The value of food grains for the traditional ration system, which has been suspended, is yet to be ascertained. We demanded that the management start implementing its traditional ration following the system in Assam,” he said.

Notably, tea workers in Assam and Tripura get both ration from the garden management and under the NFSA. “The BJP-run Assam government and Left-run Tripura government provide 20 kg rice under the NFSA, but the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee- led West Bengal government provides 35 kg rice under the NFSA once a month,” the state labour minister said. Notably, tea workers in Assam and Tripura, belonging to APL (Above the Poverty Line) get rice at the rate of Rs 3, but workers in north Bengal treated as BPL (Below the Poverty Line) get food grains at Rs 2 per kg.

The controversial under-construction bypass road in Islampur witnessed a clash between agitating farmers and the police after the former stopped the construction work at Sealtore village under the Islampur police station area in North Dinajpur district today.

Police allegedly had to resort to baton-charge to control the angry mob, allegedly hurting some farmers in the action. No major injuries were, however, reported.  Police have arrested five farmers for hindering government work. Chakulia Forward Bloc MLA, Ali Imran Ramaz, was held by police from the spot, while he was later released.

The state government had acquired land from farmers for the construction of the 11-km bypass road from Eluabari to Oliganj along National Highwway- 31 in Islampur five years ago. The construction of the road, however, came to a halt after farmers demanded more compensation for their land. Finally on 1 August, 2017 chief minister Mamata Banerjee, in an administrative meeting at Sonapur in Chopra in North Dinajpur, directed officials of the district administration to immediately start the construction of the bypass road.

The construction resumed this month, it is learnt. “Construction of the bypass road in Islampur is illegal, as farmers did not receive the exact prices for their land. Administrative officials claimed that a fund of Rs 20 crore was spent to pay the farmers against their 170 acres of land, and as per it, they ought to receive Rs 11.76 lakh for one acre of land.

However, the government gave them a mere Rs 1-3 lakh for 1 acre of land,” Mr Ramaz said. “Where did rest of the funds go? It was definitely misused by the officials concerned. We demand the administration jail the officials involved and pay the right price to the farmers,” he added.

The MLA also slammed what he called the atrocities of the police and the administration and accused them of destroying potato and maize fields belonging to the farmers for the construction of the road. Bulldozers were used to destroy the crops, he claimed. “After demonstrations by the local women against the activities of the administration, police resorted to lathi-charge.

Five farmers were held and they arrested me on the spot. We will let the construction work start only when the government will provide the farmers their exact compensation for the land,” Mr Ramaz claimed. Following the baton-charge, Forward Bloc activists in Kolkata demonstrated against the “cruelty of the police” and the police had to finally release the MLA.

“Five persons were arrested from the spot today. We have started investigations,” SDPO Islampur, Kumar Bhushan Singh, said. “The police did not lathicharge the farmers. A group of political leaders today visited the place and tried to block government work. Police only forced them to leave the place,” said North Dinajpur DM Aiyesha Rani.

A pall of gloom descended on the entire Swarupgunj village under the Chanchal police station here, as the body of a local man, Saker Ali, who was found dead in Rajasthan, arrived here today. A sense of fear also stalked the villagers, with parents of men working in the state of Rajasthan saying they would call back their children. Ali, 32, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in his rented room at Narikana area under the Shastrinagar police station in Jaipur on Tuesday.

The death comes close on the heels of another incident when another man from Malda was killed over an alleged love affair in Rajasthan in December. Most of the family members of the labourers working in the pandal decoration trade in Rajasthan now want their dear ones back home even if that means meager earnings here.

Almost all the political parties are now vocal against the BJP-led government in Rajasthan, even as the family members of Ali buried the dead near the village today, while the twin blow to Malda labourers in Rajasthan after `the brutal killing of Affarajul Khan of Kaliachak last month, compelled family members to decide to call the men back.

According to local sources, more than 300 men from the village work in other states, mainly in Rajasthan, as pandal labourers and they have been living there for years now. “Many from my family have been working in Rajasthan for almost 10 years, but we want them back now.

We will make do with a lesser income in the family, but not the terror and tension that is within us now,” Farida Parvin, a local said here today. Muklesur Rahaman, who has reached home from Rajasthan to spend some days with his family, is now thinking to quit his job there. “I can manage work here, but with a lower wage, but still it seems better to stay here than to go there in a tensed frame of mind,” a panicked Mr Rahaman said.

The Congress, CPI M and the Trinamul Congress have severely criticised the role of the Rajasthan government as they claimed that the family of Ali had to bear all the expenses for bringing the body to Malda. One of the district secretaries of the BJP, Ajoy Ganguly, meanwhile, said that death of anybody is always unwelcome and sad. “But the issue here is generating more employment opportunities for these people in the state, so that they do not need to go anywhere else.

Another thing is to publish a ‘white paper’ by the state government on the detailed list of labourers of all the districts to keep a record of these persons,” he said. District magistrate of Malda, Kaushik Bhattacharya, said, “The joint BDO there visited the family, while there has been no discussion, so far, on whether the state will provide any compensation to them.”

Mean while, the body of another labourer from Malda, Sabir Sheikh, who died from mystery fever at Ernakulam in Kerala on Tuesday, reachedhis hometown of Pirojpur area under the English Bazaar police station this morning. He was 535.

An Italian rail safety company, Italcertifer, is considering the possibilities of providing ‘Eye Level safety’ in urban Metro and Mono Rail projects. At a meeting held during the recently concluded Bengal Global Business Summit, the Italian delegation held discussions on ‘Eye Level safety’ services.

With its knowledge and national and international accreditations, Italcertifer provides a wide range of services related to certification, inspection and thirdparty compliance assessment for the rail industry. “We cater to safety services in high speed rail projects specially driver less systems. Our safety services are well known across Europe and other parts of the world.

“We are also providing services of rail signals and it would be of immense mutual benefit for both sides if there was exchange of our safety technology to facilitate eye level safety for passengers as the city supports a huge population and a successful governance gives prime importance to safety along with swiftness of transport,” said Mr Carmine Zappacosta, CEO of Italcertifer.

The Italian delegation was led by ArtValley, who organised and brought 30 delegates for the second year in a row. Apart from MoUs already signed in leather sector, there were delegates from railway sector with expertise in railway hardware, railway braking and tension devices. The delegates from rail sector have considered Bengal as a fertile ground to showcase their established service specially in the light of the fact that the state is undertaking the completion of its extensive Metro Rail project to shorten surface travel.

Plans are afoot to extend East West Metro to the Airport to link major transportation hubs together. The Railways have already approved an extension till Haldiram on VIP Road. This apart, there is a proposal for Mono rail project in Rajarhat.

The safety of mass movement of people and goods ultimately impacts the lives of its people and credibility of its government’s infrastructure standards. In such a light, a mutual collaboration between Italy and Bengal will be of mutual benefit.

To make French more appealing to bibliographers at the 42nd International Kolkata Book Fair (IKBF) which is to be inaugurated on 30 January at Central Park, Salt Lake, 14,000 square feet of land had been allocated for the largest ever theme pavilion in the history of the book fair but in the process, 20 stalls had to be “axed”. Kolkata book fair has France as its theme country this year.

Announcing this at a Press conference, Tridib Kumar Chatterjee, general secretary of the Publishers and Booksellers Guild, said that the 42nd International Kolkata Book Fair which will be unveiled by the chief minister Mamata Banerjee on 30 January in the presence of France minister of culture and communication Francoise Nyssen, “will have 14,000 square feet of land, the biggest ever in the history of the Kolkata Book Fair” dedicated to the France pavilion and “20 stalls had to be axed in the process”.

Dwelling further, Banerjee said that the fair which was shifted to Central Park Mela ground near Kaunamoyee, Salt Lake, would be hosted on a total of 12.50 acres of land and will have 580 stalls, 20 less than last year along with stalls of 200 little magazines.

Last year, there were 600 stalls but 20 stalls had to “axed” to make way for the France pavilion, he said, adding: “Little magazine stalls were, however, spared the axe.” To make the fair ground more convenient to the commuters, “additional 175 buses will be run by the state transport department this year along with normal fleet from 31 January to 11 February”.

“The buses will run from Howrah station, Sealdah station, Ultadanga, Garia, Behala and Shyambazar to the venue,” Chatterjee said. As many as 29 countries across the globe will participate in this year’s fair and eminent authors from Russia, France, Spain, Bangladesh, Scotland, Australia will make their presence felt.

The general secretary of Rishra Bidhan Chandra College, who has been accused of molestation, was remanded in jail custody for 14 days today. He tendered his resignation from the post of general secretary of the college and surrendered before Serampore court following a complaint of molestation lodged by a girl student of the college yesterday.

Earlier during the day, the victim visited chief minister
Mamata Banerjee at her Kalighat residence. Miss Banerjee is learnt to have assured the victim that action would be taken against the accused. This apart, Miss Banerjee has also directed Hooghly police superintendent to take necessary measures so as to ensure that the victim does not face any problem in going to the college. After meeting Miss Banerjee, the victim met state education minister Partha Chatterjee seeking justice.

Talking to the media, Mr Chatterjee however, said that the principal of the college should have initiated the first probe into the case, “The college authorities will have to take responsibility and should have initiated a probe.” “We are giving utmost importance to the charges that the girl has brought against the accused,” he said, adding that the “accused will not be spared”.

The general secretary of the college, Sahid Hassan Khan, was charged under Sections 323, 254, 354A, 506, 509 of the Indian Penal Code for thrashing and molesting the BA 3rd year student. Jaya Dutta, the Trinamul Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) president, condemned the incident, saying such misconduct and violence will not be tolerated in colleges.

Khan resigned from his post early this morning and surrendered before the Serampore court later. Defense lawyer Dhurjoti Narayan Pakrashi, moved the bail petition in favour of Khan, while public prosecutor Atanu Ghosh opposed it. ACJM Mrinal Kanti Mondal after hearing both the sides sent Khan to jail custody for 14 days. The case will be taken up for hearing again on 29 January.

A special lecture on “Becoming an efficient teacher” was organised by the Department of Education, Central University of Orissa, Koraput at its main campus Sunabeda today. Vice-chancellor Prof. Sachidananda Mohanty, Dr Ramendra Kumar Parhi, head of the Department of Education of the university, and Prof. Bana Bihari Mishra, professor of education, Department of Education of Mizoram University, addressed the seminar.

Prof. Mohanty advised the students to become efficient teachers and actively participate and contribute in nation building. Prof. Mishra pointed out the importance of the teaching profession. He said, a teacher should have mastery over certain skills and competency to become effective and do justice to his profession.

“With the new initiatives, a teacher’s role has changed from creating content, coming to class and delivering the content to mentoring and facilitating learning,” he said. Dr Parhi highlighted various activities of the Department of Education, its extension activities like community study, internship activities for trainee teachers and other community related activities.

The three-day long Angul Zilla Mahostav was inaugurated last night by rural development minister Bikram Keshari Arukh. Except local MP and Talcher MLA, all the four MLAs ~ Mahesh Sahu , Rajani Kanta Singh,Susanta Behera and Sanjeev Sahu ~ attended the inaugural function.

Addressing the gathering, minister Arukh said that Angul is rich in culture and has all resources. “There was a time when Angul was considered to be the state capital… Still it is now one of the most advanced districts in the country having industries and biodiversity.” The minister also praised the district administration for some of its welfare activities and implementation of schemes like Biju Kanya Ratna Jojana.

“As the district excels in art, culture, industry and agriculture and in other fields, its place in the state is important,” the minister said. Collector Samal said that the district has been awarded for successfully undertaking progressive works. Giving a detailed account of the activities in the district, he spoke of the welfare schemes and utilisation of the district mineralfund.

More than 130 stalls have been set up as part of the Pallishree Mela to coincide with the Mahostav.

State environment minister and mayor Sovan Chatterjee, refuting allegations that Kolkata air quality has degraded severely paving way for high air pollution, today said that the city is in a much better condition as compared to Delhi and other big states while air quality statistics shared by the US Consulate in the city is only limited to the area where it is based.

Addressing a Press conference, Mr Chatterjee said: “We have been hearing from several places that the air quality in Kolkata and Howrah has degraded severely during this winter. The state government is equally worried about the issue and is taking all necessary measures. However, it is being circulated by the media that the air quality in the city has become worse than Delhi.

This is absolutely wrong and is creating panic among citizens. In winter, the air quality reduces every year as the cold and heavy winds are unable to move upwards and hence pollutants created mostly float in the air in lower levels. The conditions improve by the end of winter.”

The minister added: “It has been observed that some reports are producing data that have been gathered from the US Consulate in Kolkata who update information regarding air quality on their website. But, these statistics are only limited to the area where the consulate is based, in Ho Chi Minh Sarani, and does not apply to the whole of the city.

One could see that the report of the US Consulate in Delhi has discrepancies with the air pollution statistics of Delhi in its entirety. The area where the consulate is based in Delhi is surrounded by ample greenery whereas the one located here is surrounded by busy roads and hence the reports tend to differ from the statistics given out by West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB).” Statistics brought out by the WBPCB, however, clearly states that the PM 2.5 readings on few days are higher in Kolkata as compared to Delhi.

The readings for 8, 11, 12 and 15 January show higher PM 2.5 than in Delhi. The PM 2.5 is an air pollutant that is a concern for people’s health when levels in air are high. These are tiny particles in the air that reduce visibility.

Mr Chatterjee pointed out: “The WBPCB measures air quality from 17 places in Kolkata besides five in Howrah. Among the 17 places in Kolkata, two automatic machines were installed on the premises of Victoria Memorial and Rabindra Bharati University in 2002. Last October, these machines were replaced by new ones whose installation work is on and presently no data could be retrieved from these machines.”

Kalyan Rudra, chairman of WBPCB, said: “We wanted to take up the upgradation work of the machines during summer time but we had strict instructions from the Centre that the work cannot be taken up during the Fifa Under-17 World Cup and hence it got delayed.” “We are taking initiatives to reduce air pollution under the Green City mission.

The process to bring out CNG based vehicles in the city are in process. Apart from this, we are planting trees everyday to increase greenery and reduce pollution,” said the minister said.

An inclusive job fair was jointly organised by State Employment Exchange, District Employment Exchange of Employment Directorate Odisha, Department of Social Security & Empowerment of Persons With Disabilities (SSEPD) and National Career Service Centre for Differently Abled (NCSCDA) here yesterday.

About 35 companies like TATA Motors, HDFC Bank, Ginger a TATA Enterprise, SBI Life Insurance, KFC, Care Hospital, Force Motors, Karvy, Computer Lab., Med Plus, Godrej Orion Edutech, Eureka Forbes, Amaze India Agro Biotech Pvt etc. participated in the event. The companies offered salary ranging from Rs 6000 to 50,000 a month.

About 17,000 job seekers who registered for jobs were informed through digital mode details of job, eligibility, company’s name etc. During the job fair, each job seeker was counselled by 18 experienced counsellors to enable them to get selected for the appropriate job. Seventy trained volunters of Neheru Yuva Kendra were deployed to assist the job seekers, employers and skill providers.

Nirmal Chandra Mishra, (IAS), collector Khurda and chairperson of the organising committee comprising Manoj Mohanty, ADM, Bhubaneswar, ensured the fair was conducted smoothly. Women and child development minister Prafulla Samal appealed to the corporate world to employ persons with disabilities ((PwDs), which is excellent untapped human resources.

The government will extend all possible support and facilitate employers to boost job placement drive, he said. Mr Niten Chandra, IAS, principal secretary of SSEPD department said that all job fairs in district and block levels should be inclusive to provide equal opportunities to every job seeker.

Rajesh B Patil, IAS, director of Employment & Member Secretary, Odisha, Skill Development Authority (OSDA), said that Odisha government has been providing skill training to disable and non-disabled job seekers under ‘ Skilled in Odisha’ initiative to enhance employability. Ms Mansi Nimbal, IAS, director of SSEPD, expressed that corporate world is coming forward gradually to employ disabled and PwDs, which proves that they can perform well if appropriate opportunity is provided.

Thousands of farmers from the Jajpur district and beyond under the banner of Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS) today staged a massive rally here demanding pension, enhancement of MSP and prestige to farmers. As many as 9,000 NKS representatives including many women from at least 1300 villages of the Jajpur district attended the rally at Kianalikula chhak, the gateway of Jajpur city in the district.

Besides, many NKS members from the Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Dhenkanal and Bhadrak district also participated. The farmers came in a procession from College Square to Kianali chhak. Later, they held a protest meeting wherein the NKS State coordinator Akshaya Kumar, adviser former MP Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, Sheshadev Nandaand Jajpur district coordinator Nimai Charan Ray addressed the gathering.

“We have been demanding proper price for the agricultural produce, prestige and pension for the farmers of the state, but the government is not paying heed to our demands,” decried NKS state coordinator Akshaya Kumar. He further said if the government does not address their problems soon, the farmers would intensify their movement. “If necessary emergencylike situation will be created in the state,” he said. NKS advisor, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik said,”

Almost 70 per cent of the population of our state are dependent on farming and condition of the farmers are very precarious. But no body is looking the interests of this major chunk of the state’s population”. “We the innocent farmers have suffered the most even 70 years after India’s Independence.

“We do not get even the proper procurement price for our produce. Neither do we have any social security, nor do we have prestige,” said Rabindra Behera, an agitator. Later, a NKS delegation met the Jajpur collector Ranjan Kumar Das and gave a 10 point charter of demands.

Dairy major Milk Mantra initiated measures to empower its network of farmers  financially by holding a workshop themed ‘Economic Empowerment, making a superfit Odisha’ here yesterday. Founder and managing director, Milk Mantra, Srikumar Misra and his senior team interacted with milk farmers.

Ten performing group associates were also felicitated for their significant contribution for encouraging more farmers towards Milk Mantra’s Ethical Milk Sourcing. Speaking on the GAs’ role for making EMS model a huge success, Anil Burman, Sourcing Head Milk Mantra said, “The job of Group Associates doesn’t only limit to managing of the collection points.

They are the face of the company and represent it at farmers end. Their performance and sincerity towards the farmers in the respective villages are responsible for bringing dairy development in rural ecosystem.” Ethical Milk Sourcing (EMS) is a unique programme that ensures fair and timely payment to the farmers and encourages them to provide pure milk.

Through this programme the company has contributed at least 250 crore to the rural economy as return since inception, claimed the dairy firm. As part of EMS, Milk Mantra has been successful in setting up 292 Collection Points in Eastern Odisha and 77 in Western Odisha with total 30 BMCs (Bulk Milk Coolers) in 10 districts of Odisha.

Besides the company has disbursed cow loans amounting Rs 15 crore to 1499 beneficiaries, 10224 Artificial Inseminations out of which 3349 calves were born, conducted 763 training camps and 284 veterinary camps till today. Srikumar Misra said, “Having 50,000 network farmers in six years of establishment, is a great success.

With all extension services our EMS is not just a programme to conduct; rather it’s a system where series of different programmes get conducted in order to ensure sustainable
growth of the farmers”.

A live wire trap spread out for killing wild animals, mainly wild boars and spotted deer, turned into a human death trap with a suspected poacher dying of electrocution in the mangrove forest cover of Kendrapara district. The suspected poacher has been identified as Sudhansu Sethy, police said.

The incident took place in Panikhia protected forest under Mahakalpada police station jurisdiction. Police suspect the deceased to be part of a three member gang active in the area whowere arrested  Sudhanshu along with three of his accomplices had ventured into the forest for poaching four days back.

They had spread live wires to kill the animals. However accidentally, Sudhanshu was stuck in the live wire and died. Later three accused persons had buried the body while the deceased’s family members had lodged a missing complaint with the police, said Shyamaghan Behera, inspector of Mahakalpada police station.

Three suspects were detained and were quizzed. On interrogation, they spilled the beans and confided the elaborate details of Sudhanshu’s death. Police rushed to the dense forest areas where the electrocution had taken place. The body was exhumed for initiation of criminal proceedings against the accused persons, police added.

The mishap occurred when Sudhanshu tried to electrify the wire by hooking it with the overhead live wire. Following electrocution of Sudhanshu, they panicked, buried the body and fled, stated Behera. Three of the accused persons have been arrested while search is on to nab another who is at large, he said. On January 2, a suspected poacher had died in a similar case of electrocution in Angul district as poachers had laid live wires to trap wild elephants.

Police arrested a ruling BJD youth activist, Chandrakant Mohapatra, in connection with a rape case. Mohapatra had absconded after the victim lodged a police complaint on Monday. Last night he was arrested from Keonjhar district. Chandrakant Mohapatra is a cousin of Jajpur district BJD president Saroj Mohapatra.

The district police had formed three separate teams to arrest the absconded ruling party leader after the opposition Congress and BJP threatened to gherao the police station if the accused was not arrested soon. “We had formed three separate teams and they conducted raids at various places including Cuttack, Jajpur and Keonjhar.

Finally, we managed to arrest him from Keonjhar late last night”, said Prasant Kumar Mallha, SDPO of Jajpur. He was forwarded to the local court today after his medical examination at the district head quarters hospital. He was later remanded to judicial custody after his bail plea was rejected, police said.

As per the complaint, Mohapatra had allegedly raped the woman inside the BJD party office at Dasarathapur on 11 January after calling her on the pretext of completing of some formalities for sanctioning a pucca house under Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana. The incident came to fore after the victim lodged an FIR at Mangalpur police station on 15 January. A case was registered against Chandrakant. The district BJD had rubbished the allegation as a conspiracy to defame the party.

At least eleven persons including eight police personnel were injured in a poll related clash at Chakrapal on Friday when a mob ransacked vehicles of the assistant election officer and the block development officer. The police intervened and faced the ire of the mob who indulged in heavy brick batting.

A sub-inspector, two assistant sub-inspectors and a constable and four OSAP sustained injuries while three others were also hurt. The polls were for a ward in the area. Trouble sparked when the BDO S K Bala wanted to take the ballot box from the Chakrapal Primary School to his office for counting.

A section of the voters opposed it and insisted that the counting take place at the school itself. The voters detained the election officer and his assistant. The two officials called the police and a clash ensued. Inspector-In- Charge Ratikanta Giri said his officers had rushed to spot and by escort the booth box brought to block office. No case was registered till file the report.

A businessman, missing since last night, was found dead today. He was shot dead with the bullet lodged in his head. The news caused a flutter in Baripada town today. Police said investigations are on. The empty cartridge, mobile phone, purse and belongings of the businessman Parthasarathi Das, 41, was recovered from the spot near NH No 18 at Palboni area.

Parthasarathi has a gift centreshop at Station Bazaar near Palobani. Yesterday he had telephoned his wife at around 7.30 pm. But since then his mobile was switched off. His wife and family members got worried and searched for him last night. His wife Roma said she was received his last phone around 7.30 pm later switched off the phone.

There was no dispute in the family and no rival or enemy established with other persons, said Roma. On being informed SDPO, Baripada Abhimanu Nayak, Baripada town police station IIC Ashok Kumar Nayak, Udala IIC Amit Kumar Biswal launched a search and body was found. SDPO Abhimanu Nayak said the miscreant had fired on Patha’s back portion of the head when he was trying to escape on a bike. A manhunt has been launched to nab the culprit.