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Tension prevailed at Sambalpur University on Tuesday when students ransacked property inside the campus while protesting offline exams. Students of the varsity and affiliated-colleges had launched the protest opposing the decision to conduct offline examinations amid worsening COVID-19 situation. The students have been demanding that the +3 examinations should be held online for their safety. The protest turned ugly when the students tried to barge into the Vice-Chancellor’s office. In a bid to bring the situation under control, police resorted to mild lathi charge to disperse them. As many as two platoons of police force were deployed on the campus to avoid any untoward incident.

Amid the resurgence of #Covid-19 cases in the state, the Puri district administration on Tuesday (April 6) clamped strict restrictions on tourists coming from other States. These restrictions are for tourists from states witnessing a surge in Covid-19 infections. Puri district Collector, Samarth Verma said that strict surveillance is now in place at the railway station and Covid negative report has been made mandatory for those people coming from 5 specific states.

West Bengal loves sweets! And it is difficult to keep this obsession away from politics while the state is in the middle of a fierce battle for ballots. Be it Rasogolla, Kalakand or Sandesh - there is a sweet for every occasion. This time, it’s the election and the sweet shops know that well. With high-voltage political tussle underway in West Bengal, this sweet shop in Howrah captures the mood in bite-size delicacies. The edible miniatures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Congress leader Adhir Choudhury, CPI(M) leader Biman Bose and ISF chief Abbas Siddiqi are on display at the sweet shop. Here is a miniature of PM Modi in his signature kurta. And how could anyone have missed Mamata Banerjee’s wheelchair campaigning. Not only leaders, even party symbols are on the menu. And then the most vocal slogan of the election season - ‘Khela Hobe’ And the most interesting part, these sweets are made from milk solids that can last for at least six months.

A mob went on a rampage inside a Police Station in Remuna area under Balasore district on Tuesday night (April 6) critically injuring two persons at the station. The injured persons - Raghunath Sahu and Pramita Das of Madhipur village - had come to the police station along with their son, to file a complaint with regard to ransacking of their home by some miscreants. At around 11 PM, around 150 people gathered in Remuna Police Station, barged into the station and attacked the duo. In the heat of the moment, the mob went rogue within the police station premises and resorted to vandalism. Later, some people attacked the duo with a dagger injuring them grievously. It was later found that the attack had taken place due to a past rivalry between two groups from Mandarpur and Nianbag villages under the Remuna police jurisdiction. According to sources, the injured persons were admitted to Remuna Health Centre and then shifted to Balasore Medical College and Hospital, after their condition deteriorated.

With 791 fresh cases of the novel-coronavirus disease in last 24 hours, Odisha registered its biggest single-day Covid figure this year. The total number of positive cases detected so far in the state has climbed up to 3,44,647. Of the new positive cases, 459 persons were in quarantine and a whopping 332 positives are local transmission cases. State Health And Family Welfare Department informed that one person from Puri district has succumbed to the virus on Tuesday. Sundargarh was the biggest contributor to Odisha's fresh tally as the district recorded massive 147 cases in the last 24 hours. Sundargarh was followed by Khordha district with 118 cases in a day, Bargarh is next with 48 cases, Cuttack recorded 46 cases, Sambalpur recorded 45 cases and pilgrim town Puri saw 43 new Covid positive cases during the period. Kalahandi, Jharsuguda, Nuapada have recorded more than 30 positive cases in the day. After today's Covid surge, the active cases in the state breached the 4000-mark and currently stand at 4255. In view of the resurgence of the virus in Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday reviewed the COVID-19 situation and directed all to reactivate the Covid protocols. The Chief Minister asked all districts collectors to strictly enforce the safety guidelines and also directed Odisha DGP to deploy police personnel in large numbers for a 10-day state-wide drive to enforce all the safety protocols.

  An Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police was suspended on Tuesday (April 6) after a video showing five police personnel in uniform dancing inside the Panikoili police station in Jajpur district, went viral on social media platforms. In the viral video, five police personnel including the ASI, a woman home guard and three others, were seen with their faces and uniforms smeared in colours. Other employees of the Panikoili Police Station were seen clapping and cheering the five as they danced to the tunes of a popular Odia number 'Toh Paain Dil Hue Nagin Nagin'. Jajpur Superintendent of Police, Rahul PR, said that the incident violates the rules. He said it might have taken place on the occasion of Holi. After conducting a probe, ASI Sanjay Dash was placed under suspension. The identity of the person who had captured the video within the Police Station premises and posted it on social media is still unknown.

A picture of CRPF CoBRA commando Rakeshwar Singh Manhas, who is missing after the ambush in Chhattisgarh, has been released by the Maoists. The Naxals had earlier released a statement claiming to have taken the commando hostage.

In the wake of rising trend of Covid-19 cases, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has warned of stringent action against hotels, kalyan mandaps and conventional halls for unauthorized events, and non-essential cultural programme being held in the city. BMC Commissioner, Prem Chandra Choudhary, wrote a letter to the owners and managers of all hotels, Kalyan Mandaps and Guest houses in the city stating that the civic body was notified about these places holding non-essential cultural events in the midst of spurt in Covid-19 cases. He said such events are being organized without the permission of BMC or other competent authorities. The BMC Commissioner in the letter stated that in view of the current situation, holding such unauthorized activities are undesirable and can be responsible for further spread of the COVID virus. Therefore the Commissioner has requested the owners and managers of the hotels and Kalyan Mandaps to follow the guidelines without fail. The letter further stated that failure to compliance would result in strict action against the organizers and the owner of the premises as per the Indian Penal Code, Epidemic Disease Act, Disaster Management Act and Odisha COVID Regulations 2020.  

  After nearly eight months, the prime accused in the sensational triple murder case in Binika under Subarnapur district of Odisha was arrested from Lalitpur in Uttar Pradesh.

It is a joyous moment for all fans of Ollywood superstar Babushaan Mohanty as the actor became the father of a baby boy on Tuesday

Bollywood Actor Sonu Sood was recently clicked at the famous ‘Golden Temple’ in Amritsar, Punjab. The actor went to the temple to pay obeisance and seek blessings. When asked about his visit, Sonu said that he wanted to seek blessings for the people suffering in the pandemic. He added that he prayed that the vaccination drive becomes successful and everyone lives freely without the virus. He also emphasized on following Covid-appropriate protocols to ensure safety for all.

Yet another appalling episode reflecting the plight that Odisha migrant workers have to go through outside the state. A video is doing rounds on social media purportedly showing a middleman mercilessly beating up two minor boys at a brick kiln in Andrha Pradesh. The middlemen is thrashing the boys after they refused to work due to illness. The middleman, identified as Raja Khan from Kantabanji in Bolangir district of Odisha is seen beating the minor boys with a wooden plank. He is also hurling abuses at the minor boys. Khan had reportedly sent the minor boys to the brick kiln in Andhra Pradesh as labourers. After the minor could not undertake work due to illness, brick kiln owner complained to Khan, who reached the place and assaulted the boys.

In a shocking incident, miscreants allegedly attacked a couple with sharp weapons and snatched their gold ornaments in broad daylight. The incident was reported from CDA Sector 10 area in Cuttack on Wednesday morning

A hall inside the Bhubaneswar Ram Mandir premises was sealed on Wednesday. The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) sealed the hall of the Ram Mandir for organizing a birthday function without prior permission from the civic body.

  With COVID19 cases surging in the State, Odisha Health Minister Naba Das said that the situation is being closely monitored & reviewed by CM Naveen Patnaik. The minister requested the public to strictly follow COVID19 protocols to check the spread of the virus in the state. Speaking to the media, Naba Das informed that there will be strict enforcement of night curfew in the worst-affected districts.