The deceased identified as Ranjit Biswal succumbed to injuries during treatment at the Charichhak Community Health Centre (CHC). However, Ranjit' son Happy has been shifted to the SCB Hospital and Medical College (SCBMCH) in Cuttack and his condition is stated to be critical.
According to reports, the blast took place when both the father and the son were engaged in making crackers on the terrace of their house this morning.
The intensity of the blast was so high that the walls and roof of the house were left severely damaged.
Police tried to arrest him while he was roaming in the market. He hurled a bomb to escape, retaliating which police opened fire at him. He sustained injuries on his left leg following which he was rushed to Charichhak health centre. Later, he was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack after primary treatment.
Anant is a resident of Kanakadiha under Balipatana police station in Khurda district. He is involved in several dacoity, snatching, loot and theft cases in Gop and adjacent areas, police said.
On being informed, Forest officials rushed to the spot and made attempt to rescue the reptile unhurt.
Reports said a local fisherman spread the net last night in the river. When he went to pick it in the morning, he found the snake in the net. After catching the reptile with the help of some fellow fishermen, he informed the forest officials.
The snake will be released in the nearest forest after being rescued, forest officials said.
According to reports, Benudhar Mallick of Jagsahi village under Erabanga panchayat climbed atop a tree on the Block office premises and attempted to end life by hanging self.
It was a group of labourers who spotted Benudhar and raised an alarm. Later, he was rushed to Gop Community Health Centre (CHC) for treatment.
Local residents alleged that the incident occurred when Panchayat meeting was in progress at the block office where several senior administrative officials were present.
Meanwhile, the administrative officials have assured to take necessary steps towards issuing ration card after an inquiry in four days.
The action followed after she failed to comply with the government directive, which had instructed her to vacate the land within one month.
Officials of the revenue department, who undertook the land reclaiming exercise today, said the government got into action and freed the land of encroachment since Ranjana and her associates did not vacate the encroached land on their own within the stipulated period.
Earlier on Monday, officials of the revenue department removed the encroachment from the specified land. The land was measured on January 30, they added.
As per allegations, she had occupied lands in Badakiapala and Sanakiapala villages under Gop block of the district besides the seven acres of land purchased in her name. She had allegedly encroached nearly 70 acres of adjacent government land for pisciculture.
Soon after the land grabbing incident came to fore on August 19, the Board of Revenue, Odisha had directed RDC (Central) to conduct an inquiry into the alleged land grab by the couple.
The action followed after she failed to comply with the government directive, which had instructed her to vacate the land within one month.
Officials of the revenue department, who undertook the land reclaiming exercise today, said the government got into action and freed the land of encroachment since Ranjana and her associates did not vacate the encroached land on their own within the stipulated period.
The land was measured on January 30, they added.
As per allegations, she had occupied lands in Badakiapala and Sanakiapala villages under Gop block of the district besides the seven acres of land purchased in her name. She had allegedly encroached nearly 70 acres of adjacent government land for pisciculture.
Soon after the land grabbing incident came to fore on August 19, the Board of Revenue, Odisha had directed RDC (Central) to conduct an inquiry into the alleged land grab by the couple.
One of the cases in point is a beneficiary from Andara Ichhapur village, Bishnupriya Nayak who was till date unaware that she had a ration card.
Post Fani, a total of 1,747 beneficiaries in the panchayat were identified to be provided with 50kg rice and Rs 3000 each as relief. However, it was found that rice has been distributed to all, while 47 beneficiaries did not go to the panchayat office to collect the relief money.
When an investigation was initiated in this connection, local ration card dealer Kaluram Jena was found to have embezzled tonnes of rice using ration cards of these 47 beneficiaries. Jena was later suspended.
"A ration card was used in my name but we came to know about it after 3 years. Neither was I given the card, nor did I get any benefits. It was when the Supply Inspector pointed out about having double ration cards in my name, the actual matter came to fore," said Bishnupriya.
"Some of the beneficiaries did not come to collect their relief money. While 22 persons have been identified so far, I haven't received any complaint from anyone," said Banaranjan Patnaik, Sarpanch of Andara Ichhapur panchayat.
Not only Gop block, similar allegations also surfaced from Puri municipality. Here, out of the 32,200 beneficiaries, 1500 card holders are yet to receive the Rs 2000 cyclone relief fund.
Reports claim that 15,932 quintal rice has been distributed to the beneficiaries. Now questions have been raised that some beneficiaries in the municipality area have been left out, replicating the Gop ration card scam.
While the Executive Engineer of Puri municipality has ordered to launch a probe subject to the 1500 'fake' beneficiaries, district Supply Inspector said that stringent action will taken if allegations are found true.
Earlier on Wednesday, quintals of flattened rice (chuda) meant for distribution among the Cyclone Fani-hit victims of seven panchayats of Krushna Prasad block in Puri district were dumped by local administration near Chilika coast. It is being alleged that due lack of timely distribution of the stocks, the relief got damaged and later buried by the administration at the backyard of Pantha Niwas in Chilika coast.
However, Block Development Officer (BDO) of Krushna Prasad block Abhimanyu Majhi refuted the allegation and said that the flattened rice stocks were damaged in cyclone-triggered rain and was unfit for consumption.
Read More- Quintals Of Relief Meant For Cyclone Fani Victims Dumped In Puri
As per reports, the 82-year-old Dhani Mallick, a native of Saulia village under Gop block of Puri district is forced to live in a toilet after she was allegedly abandoned by her own children. The elderly woman is neglected by her sons following dispute between them over property.
According to sources, Dhani was staying with her eldest son till two months ago. However, now she is living in a toilet which was allotted to her son under Swachh Bharat Mission.
"I was living with my eldest son, but now I am leaving here (in the toilet) for the last two months. I find very difficult to live here as none of my children look after me," said Dhani.
The incident has created resentment among the locals who have now sought local administration's intervention into the matter.
"The elderly woman is neglected by her four sons in the dusk of her life. As her health condition is not good, we request the local administration to take necessary measures for her rehabilitation and care," said Yudhistir Rout, a local resident.
When contacted Gop Tehsildar, Prithviraj Mandal said that they will rescue the woman and legal action will be taken against her sons if needed.
"From media, we came to know about the incident. I will direct the concerned officials to rescue the woman immediately and rehabilitate her in a shelter home or else will hold discussion with her sons to take proper care," informed Mandal.
As per the reports, a team of Gop Police including the Inspector In-Charge had gone to the Redhua village on August 6 to arrest a person on charges of robbery. However, the locals including some women overpowered the police team and gheraoed them for no less than five hours. The police team was only released after the intervention of the Nimapara SDPO.
After their detention, the villagers accused police of using excessive force, beating women and arresting innocents.
Kavita, a Redhua village resident said, “The police came last night while we were asleep and beat us including my husband and mother-in-law.”
Similarly, another villager, Sushila said, “I do not know why the police came last night. But they broke open our door and thrashed me mercilessly.”
Police could not be contacted for their comments on the matter.
(Edited By Bikram Keshari Jena)
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Rabindra Hota, a resident of Ishanpur panchayat under Gop block who is a real beneficiary said "I have been moving from pillar to post seeking old age pension in my name for the last three years, but to no avail, whereas pensions are being withdrawn in the name of dead persons, not only in our village but also in other neighbouring villages too."
The statement of Hota has aptly corroborated the information available in the RTI report, which is in possession of OTV.
As per the RTI data, the pension had been withdrawn till November in the name of one Ramachandra Khatoi of Mahanipur, who died on August 13 this year. Sources said his pension had been withdrawn, using his forged signature and thumb impression.
Even the widow of Ramachandra, who fulfils all criteria to get the benefit is also deprived of her right.
"The pension has been withdrawn in the name of my deceased husband and the amount has been taken away by unknown persons. Even I am also deprived of my right to get the government benefit under the social security scheme. Nobody with me is to help me out in this matter," said Shanti Khatoi, wife of deceased Ramachandra.
Such is the case of Sita Rout of Sundi village under the same block. As per reports, Sita had died on May 20, 2019. But the pension amount has been withdrawn in her name till November this year.
Similarly, Sailbala Parida of Arei village has been included under the old-age pension scheme in 2019. But, she was waiting for her pension book for almost a year as the same was not issued by the competent authority till November this year. Following a complaint in this regard, the Gop Block Development Officer (BDO) issued the book recently and released Rs 6,500 to her bank account just a day after issuing the passbook.
"I had been assured of the benefit for the last two years. But, I recently received some amount. Even they have not taken any documents from me," said Sailabala.
Locals alleged such discrepancies are the tip of an iceberg as there are so many such cases in the panchayat.
The local BDO, Diptirani Das, however, clarified "The pension amount had been credited to the accounts of some dead persons inadvertently but the same has already been recovered."