Man tonsured, forced to drink urine by villagers over previous enmity

The mob tied the victim with a rope and thrashed him merciless on village road

BHUBAENSWAR, AUG. 5: In a weird incident, a 32-year-old man was on Monday night allegedly tonsured and forced to drink urine by some locals at Baunsabag village under Tihidi police limits in Odisha’s Bhadrak district over a previous enmity, reports said on Tuesday.  

As per a police complaint lodged by Sukanti Mahalik, wife of the victim, a group of people arrived at their house in the evening and ransacked her husband Sukadev Mahalik’s motorcycle parked at the veranda.

Later, the mob tied Sukadev with a rope and thrashed him mercilessly. The attackers dragged him on the village road, smeared his face with lime, tonsured him, and garlanded him with shoes, Sukanti alleged in the complaint.

She further alleged that some of the locals urinated on her husband’s face and forced him to drink the urine as he sought water while being meted out “unbearable” physical torture. Acting on the complaint, police on Tuesday registered a case against 17 persons, including some women.

Bhadrak district collector Gyana Das directed the local tehsildar and Police to investigate the matter.

“The victim was earlier arrested for attacking a person and later released on bail. In order to settle scores, some of the locals assaulted him at the village last evening. We have registered a case against 17 persons and detained some of the accused. A manhunt is on for the other offenders,” said inspector Ramesh Chandra Singh of Tihidi police station.

12-year hero jumps into river to save a girl from drowning

BHUBANESWAR, AUG 5. : Bulu Muduli, a 12-year-old boy of Balimela in Odisha’s Malkangiri district has become the talk of the town after he risked his life to save a minor girl from drowning in a river. The teenager, as reports said on Tuesday, saved a schoolgirl on Sunday evening when the latter jumped into a river to end her life after finding out she had failed in annual Standard X Matriculation examinations.

As per information, frustrated with her results, the girl went to a bridge near Balimela Power House after to commit suicide. The girl stopped him and asked if he had a mobile phone. Saying that he didn’t have one, Bulu left the spot. Just a few metres away, he heard a large splash sound. He turned back to find that the girl had jumped into the river.

Without giving second thought, Bulu jumped into the river to rescue the girl.  Although the water current didn’t favour the 12-year-old’s efforts, he managed to catch hold of the girl by her legs and swam ashore.

Later, locals reached out to the two kids. While Bulu was fine, the girl was barely breathing. A man from the crowd pumped out water from the girl’s body and then she was immediately rushed to Balimela hospital.

Hospital sources said the girl was doing well.

The 12-year-old boy’s bravery was later applauded by the locals. Bulu, the savior of the hour, is an orphan.  Born in a poor family, the kid has lost his parents. He now lives with his elder sister but due to poor financial conditions, he had to leave his studies midway.

Sand artist Manas sahoo portrays moods of devotees ahead of Ram Temple Bhoomi Pujan

Sand artist Manas sahoo portrays moods of devotees ahead of Ram Temple Bhoomi Pujan

BY AKSHAYA KUMAR SAHOO

BHUBANESWAR, AUG. 4: Noted sand artist Manas Kumar Sahoo on Monday created an animation art in Odisha’s Puri welcoming the forthcoming foundation laying ceremony" or ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ of Shri Ram Temple at Ayodhya.

In the 1-minute-50 second art, Manas has attempted to portray the excitement of the  devotees from every nook and corner of India  in collecting soil and water  from different holy places for  the Shilanyas of the temple.