News from Gajapati

In a disturbing breach of public trust, Rayagada Police arrested seven individuals—including three homeguards—for looting Rs 9 lakh and a gold chain from a trader under the guise of a police operation. The incident, involving personnel from Kalyansinghpur and Bissamcuttack police stations, has raised concerns over misuse of uniformed authority, prompting calls for stricter monitoring of auxiliary police forces.

In Odisha’s Gajapati district, villagers from Bankijhola and nearby areas are risking their lives daily by using ropes to cross a flooded river due to the lack of an all-weather road or bridge. With no safer alternative, even children and the elderly must brave dangerous waters. This perilous journey is not optional. Authorities have promised action after an official assessment is completed.

Two critically injured in a head-on bus-bike collision near Ramagada, Gajapati; locals rescued Rajkishore Mallick, Rabi Mallick, and Subhendu Mallick; police investigating the incident. The private bus was travelling from Berhampur to Umerkote when it hit a bike coming from the opposite direction. Due to the severe impact, all three bike riders fell off the vehicle, sustaining grievous injuries.

An OSRTC Volvo bus with over 30 passengers, including women and children, broke down in Gajapati's jungle, leaving them stranded for 12 hours without food or water.

Senior clerk Jagdish Pattnaik and peon Niranjan Nayak from CDMO office in Gajapati's Paralakhemundi were arrested by Odisha Vigilance for accepting a Rs 25,000 bribe for issuing an appointment letter. Following the trap, simultaneous searches are underway at two different locations linked to the senior clerk from the DA angle. Entire tainted bribe money has been recovered from both the accused persons.

A deceased's family in Gothakeli village, Gajapati, received a Rs 10,470 power bill despite no active connection, highlighting bureaucratic inefficiency.

A pickup van overturned in Gajapati's Mohana block, injuring 10 migrant labourers, with four in critical condition. The accident occurred near Chapadapanka village due to alleged rash driving and overloading.

R. Udayagiri police arrested peon Siba Narayan Nayak for allegedly serving urine to Junior Engineer Sachin Gouda at RWSS office, sparking public outrage and an NHRC inquiry.

A junior engineer in Odisha's Gajapati district was allegedly served urine instead of water by a peon, sparking outrage and an investigation. Instead of water, the peon allegedly handed him a steel bottle containing what was later suspected to be urine. The sample was sent to a local lab, which detected a 2.0 PPM (parts per million) concentration of ammonia, raising suspicion of urine contamination.

A landslide in Gajapati's Mohana block damaged seven houses, with a six-year-old girl narrowly escaping death and a woman critically injured by a snakebite amid floodwaters. Villagers reported that the landslide brought down mud, debris, and rocks from the nearby hill, thereby severely affecting families and damaging properties.

Fresh tensions arise at the Odisha-Andhra border in Gajapati as Andhra officials conduct unauthorised surveys and offer welfare schemes to tribal villagers, prompting Odisha's investigation and response. Villagers from Gangabada panchayat have alleged that Andhra Pradesh is exploiting the simplicity and poverty of tribal residents, attempting to assimilate them into their mainland through misinformation and coercion.

Orissa High Court dismisses petitions by Bidyabharati and ex-DFO Sangram Behera, allowing murder trial in ACF Soumyaranjan's 2021 death case to proceed. Based on whatever witnesses and evidence are there in it, the High Court ordered that the case cannot be quashed at the cognisance stage and be sent for trial.

Narendra Paika from Seranga village, Gajapati district, allegedly killed his wife Monika before committing suicide, citing marital discord and infidelity. Their bodies were found separately, with investigations underway. However, a purported video captured by the man to ventilate his feelings before ending his life by suicide has surfaced.

Lightning strikes during Nor’wester Kalbaisakhi storms killed 10 people across Odisha, including three in Koraput and two each in Ganjam, Jajpur, and Dhenkanal districts. One person died in Gajapati. IMD regional centre has issued Orange alert in several districts for next two days.

The NH-326 expansion in Odisha faces delays, escalating safety concerns. Unfinished road surfaces and exposed metal rods pose serious risks to drivers and commuters. Residents demand progress as Digapahandi NHAI official defends the work quality.