BOLD, BEAUTIFUL AND BENEVOLENT

Akash Das Nayak and Priya entered the Ollywood almost at the same time a few years ago. They make an onscreen hot pair. Highly talented and industrious, both the actors have earned many laurels to their credit.

The two artistes have one thing in common - they participate in a lot of charity activities.

Kudos young, benevolent acts for their humane behaviour.

ODISHA: BJD MLA abducted by Maoists

Bhubaneswar, March 24 (PTI): A tribal MLA of the ruling BJD in Odisha was abducted by Maoists in Koraput district, nearly 460 km from here, in the early hours of Saturday Jhina Hikaka, legislator from Laxmipur, was returning home from Koraput when more than 50 armed rebels stopped his vehicle near Toyaput, Koraput Superintendent of Police Avinash Kumar said. While the personal security officer (PSO) and driver of the MLA were allowed to leave, Hikaka was taken away into the nearby forest, about 40 km from here by the ultras at gunpoint, he said. The PSO and driver informed the Laxmipur police station about the incident, the Kumar said, adding steps have been initiated to ascertain the whereabouts of the legislator. The abduction came 10 days after the Maoists took two Italians hostage from Kandhamal district on March 14 and talks were in progress between rebel-nominated negotiators and government representatives to resolve the crisis. The incident happened hours after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik appealed to the rebels to desist from violence. Meanwhile, Maoist negotiators engaged to end the Italian hostage crisis - B.D. Sharma and Dandapani Mohanty - have appealed to the Maoists to release the legislator without delay. Soon after the news broke out, chief minister Naveen Patnaik convened a meeting of senior officials in the state secretariat and discussed various ways to solve the crisis.

PNB CMD visits Bhubaneswar

By Priyanka Pratihari

Bhubaneswar: Chairman and managing director of PNB Mr K.R. Kamath during his trip to the state on March 21 visited the Station Square Branch, here and inaugurated the Cash Deposit Kiosk.

Customers can deposit cash through the Kiosk without bank’s staff intervention.

While visiting the branch, the CMD emphasized that the branch will set a benchmark for customer service in the state. During the function, Mr Pankaj Bhardwaj, General Manager, Mr S K Mohanty, Circle Head, Sri B. N. Mishra, AGM Station Square Branch along with other staff members were present.

Ranendra wins Athgarh bypoll, gets back his crown

By Swagat Sahoo/www.indusvalleytimes.com

Bhubaneswar, March 21: The ruling BJD on Wednesday retained the Athgarh assembly seat by defeating the rival Congress in the by-election held following disqualification of the membership of Independent legislator Ramesh Rout.

By-poll to the seat was held on Sunday.

BJD’s Ranendra Pratap Swain defeated the Congress candidate Suresh Mohapatra by a margin of 47,390 votes. While Ranendra polled 87,604 votes, Suresh got 40,214 votes.

The BJP nominee Bikram Dash finished the poor third with just 2452 votes.

Soon after the result was announced, the victorious Ranendra took oath as the member of the Assembly in the evening and participated in the ongoing budget session of the House.

“I would like to thank the people of Athagarh, chief minister Naveen Patnaik all those senior leaders who campaigned for me. I would try to live up to the expectation of the people of Athagarh,” said the newly elected legislator Mr Swain.

ODISHA UNFOLDED

The colours of the setting sun: The sun goes down the Tumudibandh hills in Odisha’s Kandhamal on March 4. (An Indus Valley Times photograph)

www.indusvalleytimes.com