CM’s water plan

Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday said that his government had decided to restructure and strengthen the drainage organisation. “The restructured drainage organisation must undertake large number of creek irrigation projects in non-irrigated pockets of the coastal districts,” said Patnaik, while addressing engineers of the water resources department.  

Mindtree

Bhubaneswar: Chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi on Monday inaugurated the ground-breaking ceremony of the software development block of IT company Mindtree here. Mindtree’s centre head Anindya Mitra said during the event that the company was working on developing the second development block.

Mercury rises

Bhubaneswar: Bhawanipatna on Monday recorded the season’s highest temperature on Monday with the mercury hitting 43.2°C while Balangir continued to sizzle at 43°C for the second consecutive day. The Bhubaneswar Meteorological Department has recorded temperatures above the 40°C mark at as many as six other interior pockets of the state. The department release said that a mix weather of squall with heat may continue over the state till April 9 while there will be a gradual increase in mercury from April 10.

Hunger strike

Bhubaneswar: The indefinite hunger strike called by Maoist leader D. Keshav Rao alias Azad inside Jharapada Special Jail here entered its sixth day on Monday. Azad, along with six others, has been on a hunger strike since March 30, demanding speedy trial of cases against them. He has been lodged at there jail since 2011.

Girl rescued

Balasore: Police on Monday rescued a minor girl and arrested a 23-year-old man on the charges of kidnapping and raping the victim. The accused, Umakanta Giri of Bagudi area, has been produced in court.

One held

Bhubaneswar: One child died and around 20 persons were injured when a passenger bus overturned at Baghamari in Khurda. The injured have been admitted to Khurda District Headquarter Hospital.

Six gets life term

Sambalpur: A local court on Monday sentenced six persons to life imprisonment in connection with the murder of Anup Babu, a contractor, on October 7, 2010. Two others accused in the case — Rohit Pradhan, 33, and Amaresh Pardhan, 36, - were acquitted due to lack of evidence. The convicts are Sanjaya Ghosh, 42, Padmanabh Rout, 55, Satyendra Thakur, 41, Sashikanta Senapati, 55, Prakash Naik, 43 and Lankeswar Mahalik, 33. They were found guilty under sections 302/34 and 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code and awarded life imprisonment. Besides, each were slapped a fine of Rs 50,000, failing which they would have to undergo rigorous imprisonment of two more years. First additional sessions judge Ambuja Mohan Das pronounced the judgment. 

Anthrax scare

Bhubaneswar: Four tribal residents from Jambuguda village under Kashipur block in Rayagada district have died of anthrax after consuming beef during the past week. Two persons died within three days while two more died subsequently. Around 10 others have been admitted to the district hospital where their condition is stated to be critical.

Itishree

Bhubaneswar: The District and Sessions Court of Rayagada will pronounce its verdict in the Tikiri Upper Primary School teacher Itishree Pradhan murder case on April 16. After hearing both sides' arguments, the court completed its hearing in the case today. While 36 persons have deposed from the prosecution side, only five have deposed for the opposite side.

Rights order

Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission has directed chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi to submit compliance of the payment of compensation of Rs 1 lakh within six weeks to the next of the kin of a man, who died of electrocution in Bhadrak district in October 2013.