Balangir: A special squad of Balangir police on Friday nabbed four Maoists from Turekela block of the district. They were local rebels and had taken arms training in Chhattisgarh, the police said. The four have been identified as Ram Singh Beriha, 47, Debraj Beriha, 27, his brother Ganesh Beriha, 22 and Tularam Jagat, 40. Last month, the Balangir police had arrested five Maoist sympathisers in connection with a murder. Bhubaneswar: The state panchayati raj department on Friday launched a toll-free panchayat help line. The number is 1800-345-6768. Inaugurating the helpline, panchayati raj minister Kalpataru Das said the toll-free number would not only generate grievances, but also bridge the gap between the people and government. Nine officials have been engaged to operate the system. Bhubaneswar: Health minister Damodar Rout on Friday demanded more central aid for various programmes that are being implemented in the health sector. Speaking at a two-day meeting to health ministers and secretaries of all the states on Friday in New Delhi, Rout sought 100 per cent support from the Centre for four new medical colleges in the state Bhubaneswar: Kandhamal police on Friday recorded the statement of a 13-year-old gangrape victim at Capital Hospital here. The Class VIII girl was allegedly raped by a group of youths during Dussehra. After lodging complaints with the local police, the girl had to flee Bhubaneswar with her parents following threats from the accused. The girl had also approached the Mahila police here two days ago. Cuttack: An Odisha Jan Morcha worker identified as Amiya Pandav was on Friday arrested by Mancheswar police for his alleged involvement in setting a vehicle owned by a member of another political outfit of fire on September 26. Pandav was later released after he produced the anticipatory bail papers. Cuttack: A 40-year-old man died after drinking spurious liquor in Rourkela. He had consumed the liquor on Thursday night and started vomiting. His family rushed him to the district hospital, but he died on the way. Police have raided the shop and seized the suspected liquor packets. Further investigation is on. Cuttack: Met officials on Friday predicted light to moderate rainfall across the state over the next three to four days. “Interior Odisha will receive more rainfall than the coastal areas. There will be maximum rain in the next 24 to 48 hours, but low-pressure effects will persist till Tuesday. Once the clouds dissipate, it will start getting cold,” said director of the met centre Sarat Chandra Sahu.
Monday, 09 February 2026
