Holi tragedy: 13 die, six go missing in rivers

By Soumya Ranjan Sahoo

Bhubaneswar, March 17: At least 13 Holi revellers were killed and six others went missing while taking bath in different rivers and ponds at different parts of Odisha on Monday.

Preliminary reports said four youths each reportedly drowned while bathing in Kuakhai and Daya rivers on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.

Four revellers went missing in the Mahanadi river at Gadagadiaghat near Cuttack after they were swept away while bathing. Two youths in Keonjhar district also went missing while taking bath in the Baitarani river.

Two people were reportedly killed in Balasore, while one each death report came in from Balasore, Ganjam, Jajpur, Khurda and Kalahandi district.

All the victims had gone to take bath in rivers and ponds after playing Holi.

Meanwhile, Odisha chief mininister Naveen Patnaik kept himself away from Holi celebrations in view of the devastation caused by severe cyclone Phailin in October last year.

“I’m not going to play Holi in view of the severe devastation cause of by cyclone Phailin last year,” the chief minister said.

The cabinet colleagues of Mr Patnaik were, however, seen observing the festival to their heart-content. Panchayati raj minister Kalpataru Das, energy minister Arun Sahoo and government deputy chief whip in Odisha Legislative Assembly and BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka celebrated the occasion by smearing the colour on each other faces and distributing sweets to party workers.

Holi tragedy: 13 die, six go missing in rivers

By Soumya Ranjan Sahoo

Bhubaneswar, March 17: At least 13 Holi revellers were killed and six others went missing while taking bath in different rivers and ponds at different parts of Odisha on Monday.

Preliminary reports said four youths each reportedly drowned while bathing in Kuakhai and Daya rivers on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.

Four revellers went missing in the Mahanadi river at Gadagadiaghat near Cuttack after they were swept away while bathing. Two youths in Keonjhar district also went missing while taking bath in the Baitarani river.

Two people were reportedly killed in Balasore, while one each death report came in from Balasore, Ganjam, Jajpur, Khurda and Kalahandi district.

All the victims had gone to take bath in rivers and ponds after playing Holi.

Meanwhile, Odisha chief mininister Naveen Patnaik kept himself away from Holi celebrations in view of the devastation caused by severe cyclone Phailin in October last year.

“I’m not going to play Holi in view of the severe devastation cause of by cyclone Phailin last year,” the chief minister said.

The cabinet colleagues of Mr Patnaik were, however, seen observing the festival to their heart-content. Panchayati raj minister Kalpataru Das, energy minister Arun Sahoo and government deputy chief whip in Odisha Legislative Assembly and BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka celebrated the occasion by smearing the colour on each other faces and distributing sweets to party workers.

Nachika Linga caught between devil and deep blue sea

By Surya Narayan Panda

Koraput, March 17: Nachika Linga, the underground leader of Maoist-backed Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) who recently planned to surrender before the Odisha police, is now in trouble.

The rebels have disowned Nachika while the police is chasing him to arrest.

Nachika’s problem started ever since he decided early this month to give up his life in the jungle and participate in the coming elections so as to address the problems of the tribal farmers in Narayanpatna area of Koraput district in democratic ways.

The Maoists apprehend that if the tribal leader surrenders, they would lose their grip over the area where they built their base assiduously over a period of five years.

In a two-page letter singed by Daya and Aruna, leaders of the Srikakulam division of the outlawed CPI-Maoist, the rebels on Monday urged the local tribal people to disown Nachika and oppose his plan to join electoral politics.

Alleging that Nachika was trying to further his own personal ambitions at the cost of the ‘larger interests of the local tribal people,’ the Maoist leaders called the tribals to denounce his plans to contest the 2014 general elections.

The letter says the Maoists supported Nachika Linga and CMAS after they boycotted the 2009 general elections. However, the CMAS betrayed them in 2012 when it took an active part in the three-tier panchayat elections in 2012.

“After winning all the seats in Narayanpatna area, the CMAS led by Nachika extended support to the ruling BJD candidate for the Zilla Parishad chairman’s post after entering into a 10-point agreement with the state mass education minister Rabi Nanda and other BJD MLAs including the Laxmipur legislator Jhina Hikaka,” the letter said.

“Has it brought about any changes in the lives of the people? Did BJD fulfill the 10-point charter of demands?” the rebel leaders asked in the letter.

Alleging that  the elected sarpanchs have gone missing and the local Zilla Parishad member Joru Mouka has  become a ‘don’ in Damanjodi, the letter says it is not electoral politics but ‘people’s war’ which is the only way out for the people to escape their misery.

Urging the people in Narayanpatna to oppose Nachika’s move the Maoists have asked them to boycott the ensuing polls.

Nachika had announced to surrender before a local court I Koraput on March 12 after consultation with local people at Balipeta village. However, before he turned up at the venue, armed police reached there to arrest him, forcing him retreat to the jungle.