Odisha police writes govt for confiscation of Rs 200 crore property of AT Group

BYNalini Sahu

Bhubaneswar, May 9: The Odisha police on Friday wrote a letter to the state government recommending for confiscation of properties worth Rs 200 crore of Artha Tatwa (AT) Group, a chit fund company which is part of the 44 companies to be probed by the CBI.

“The police has written a letter to the state government for the confiscation of property of the AT Group in two phases. The properties recommended for confiscation include 106 acres of land and some independent duplex houses and flats owned by the company,” police commissioner Dr Rajendra Prasad Sharma told the media here.

In November, the police had seized 13 vehicles and some plots of land belonging to the AT Group in the course of its investigation into the multi-crore chit fund scam. It had arrested Pradeep Sethi, managing director of AT Group, in May last year on charges of running illegal financial business and duping investors.

indusvalleytimes.com

BJP forecasts total rout of Congress in Odisha

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Bhubaneswar, April 14: The BJP on Monday said the Congress in Odisha would be wiped out in the ongoing elections and the party claimed that it would form the next government in the state by getting a clear majority.

“We are pretty sure that the NDA will form the government at the Centre under the leadership of Narendra Modi. Similarly, Odisha will witness unexpected results in the assembly elections. The Congress will be wiped out in the state and BJP will emerge as the number one party after the elections,” BJP central leader Arun Singh said at a press conference here.

He also said even if the BJD gets a few MP seats, the people of the state would not benefit as the regional party wants instability at the Centre.

Condemning the attack on the family members of the Congress candidate from Jeypore assembly seat, Taraprasad Bahinipati, - BJP leader Bhrugu Baxipatra who was also present at the press meet, - demanded the resignation and immediate arrest of senior BJD leader and school and mass education minister Rabinarayan Nanda for his alleged involvement in the attack.

Rahul asks party leaders against indiscipline

By Ratikant Mohanty

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 10: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Monday warned party leaders against indiscipline and asked them work together to unseat the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government in the state in the ensuing Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

Mr Gandhi, who concluded his two-day visit to the state in the evening, warned that indiscipline would not be tolerated in the party.

“It is the Congress party, which is responsible for its own defeat, not other parties. The party will perform well, if all the leaders work together. Factionalism and indiscipline have led to repeated defeats in the state. From now on, action will be taken against the leaders, whoever he or she may be, for indulging in such activities,” said during interactive sessions with block and district level leaders.

The Gandhi scion also asked the leaders not to sit in the capital city Bhubaneswar and reach out to the people in order to propagate the welfare programmes initiated by the UPA government.

87 rebels have laid down arms this year in Odisha: Naveen

By Nalini Sahu

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 3: At least seven security personnel and 21 Left Wing Extremists (LWEs) have been killed and 87 surrendered before police in 2013 till November end, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said in the state Assembly on Tuesday.

In a written reply to a question from BJD legislator Anant Das, the Mr Patnaik said four BSF personnel were killed in an ambush in Koraput district, while 13 Maoists were gunned down in Malkangiri district.

“Apart from Malkangiri, four rebels were killed in Rayagada district and one each were killed in Koraput, Balangir, Baragarh and Gajapati districts,” the CM said.

Of the 87 LWEs who surrendered during the year, 65 were from Malkangiri district, followed by nine in Koraput district and five in Rayagada district.

 Two others surrendered in Nabarangpur, while one each surrendered in Kandhamal, Gajapati, Sundergarh, Keonjhar, Sambalpur and Dhenkanal, he added.

“Only Nayagarh, Jajpur and Dhenkanal remained free from Maoist violence and influence this year.  Gajapati, Ganjam, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Deogarh and Sundargarh  are not considered as free from the LWE menace in view of movement and activities of the ultras,” the CM stated.

Poverty drives mother to sell son

By Sikha Sashirekha

www.indusvalleytimes.com

Bhubaneswar, March 3: In a shocking incident, a woman on Wednesday reportedly sold her six-month-old son at Rs 7000 to fish vendor at Cuttack, nearly 30 km from here.

Padma Behera, a daily wage-earner of Chhatrabazar, sold her child to Gurubari Sahoo, a fish vender of Telisahi in Ranihat area for Rs 7,000.

“Since I am unable to bring up both the child, there was no other way than selling my child for his safe and secured future. I have deposited all the money in a bank,” said Padma.

The sell deed was executed in presence of some local people.

Padma has another son of five years old.

“As I am a divorcee and don’t have any child, I bought the child to bring him up,” said Gurubari sahoo.