Maoist camp

Malkangiri: Security forces here on Thursday seized a huge cache of explosives stocked by Maoists, apparently to disturb peace in the region. Acting on a tip-off, a security team carried out a combing operation in the MV-47 forest in the area and seized 27 gelatin sticks, 100 detonators and live bullets. The team has tightened the security in the area following the seizure, said reports.  

Strike off

Bhubaneswar: Clerical staff of the revenue department put their agitation on hold on Thursday following a government assurance to look into their demands. The clerks had been protesting under the banner of the Odisha Rajashwa Amala Sangha since August 11, demanding fulfilment of a nine-point charter of demands that included pay hikes and abolition of contractual recruitments.

Swine flu

Bhubaneswar: The death toll from swine flu has hit 32 in the state with one more person succumbing to the H1N1 virus on Thursday at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. Ten people have died while undergoing treatment at SCB this year. Twelve people tested positive for the H1N1 virus out of 28 swab samples tested at the Regional Medical and Research Centre.

Witchcraft

Jeypore: Local residents killed a villager on the suspicion of practising witchcraft at Bandhugaon in Koraput district. The matter came to the fore after Renda Bidika of Turugudi village, wife of the deceased, lodged a police complaint alleging that her husband, Rameya, was murdered and his body burnt at Lungu village. The complainant stated that she was thrashed by villagers four days back, following which her husband went missing.

New V-C

Bhubaneswar: Pradeep Kumar Chand has been appointed as the new vice-chancellor of North Odisha University. Chand is currently a professor of botany at Utkal University.