News from Bhubaneswar

The monsoon session of the Odisha Assembly commencing from Thursday is likely to be stormy as the opposition Congress announced that it will move a no-confidence motion against the BJP government, with the BJD resolving to raise questions on law and order, women's safety, fertiliser scarcity and other burning issues.

The festive spirit in Odisha ahead of Dussehra may face a setback as the Meteorological Department has predicted widespread rainfall across several districts of the state. According to weather officials, a low-pressure area is expected to develop over the Bay of Bengal around September 25–26, which could trigger wet conditions during the festive period.

Marking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday, the Odisha government planted over 1 crore saplings across 30 districts. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi praised public participation, highlighting the environmental and symbolic significance of the drive. Held under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, the initiative was tracked via the ‘Meri LiFE’ portal to ensure transparency.

Ahead of the Odisha Assembly's monsoon session, Bhubaneswar has been transformed into a high-security zone. Commissionerate Police, under the supervision of DGP YB Khurania, has enforced a 3-tier security system. With 30 platoons deployed and multiple control measures in place—including Section 144, surveillance, and barricading—officials aim to ensure law and order throughout the session's duration.

Panic gripped Bhubaneswar late on Tuesday night after a series of bombs were hurled between Gautam Nagar Basti and Ashok Nagar Falikia Basti, causing damage to homes and property. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday was marked with a special cleanliness drive in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday under the Seva Pakhwada campaign, with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi leading from the front.

The Odisha government’s flagship welfare initiative, Subhadra Yojana, completed one year on Tuesday. Introduced by the BJP government, it is regarded as one of the state’s most ambitious programs aimed at promoting women’s empowerment and financial independence.

A man in Bhubaneswar, posing as a senior official from NALCO and Reliance, duped a job aspirant of Rs 18 lakh by offering a fake government job. Naresh Barik, the accused, created forged documents and even a fake website to appear credible. He has been arrested, while his accomplice remains at large. Authorities have launched a thorough investigation into the job scam.

In a shocking incident near Bhubaneswar’s Garage Chhak, a woman was publicly assaulted after protesting harassment inside an auto-rickshaw. Despite the presence of bystanders, no one intervened. The case has raised questions about public apathy and safety in urban areas. An FIR has been filed, and police have launched an investigation while the city’s safety reputation faces scrutiny.

The Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Odisha government has suspended former Bamara Tahsildar Aswini Kumar Panda, who was recently caught in a vigilance trap. The suspension comes after Panda, an OAS officer currently in jail, was apprehended by the Vigilance authorities on September 12.

BJD leader Shreemayee Mishra, has once again stirred political circles with a cryptic social media post, this time writing about ‘fake monks,’ which many believe is an indirect reference to former bureaucrat and ex-BJD leader V.K. Pandian.

The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has announced temporary changes in train operations due to safety-related modernisation work between Jajpur Keonjhar Road and Bhadrak section.

The Odisha government has decided to expand its road safety infrastructure with the establishment of five new Institutes of Driving Training and Research (IDTRs) and 35 automated testing stations (ATSs) across the state. The move is aimed at enhancing professional driver training, improving vehicle fitness checks, and reducing road accidents.

In a bid to strengthen the investigation process in cases involving atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), the Odisha government is considering the establishment of exclusive police stations across the state. The move aims to ensure quicker registration, time-bound probe, and efficient disposal of such sensitive cases.

In the run-up to the monsoon session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, Speaker Surama Padhy has convened an all-party meeting on Tuesday to seek cooperation from all political parties for the smooth conduct of the House.