Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Athgarh, Aug 5:

A near-rerun of the horrifying  Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case of New Delhi has come to fore in Odisha with the arrest of a bus driver and its conductor.

The shocking details came to light after Banki police arrested Santosh Sahu, a bus driver and conductor Bibhuti Rout while investigating the murder of a young woman whose semi-nude body was recovered from under the bridge on river Mahanadi at Jatamundia in Banki in Cuttack district on Tuesday.

Upon recovery of the body police in the course of its preliminary investigations found out that the woman was raped before she was murdered. It also found out that the deceased young woman hailed from Gourangapur of Athgarh.

Later during investigations police came to know that the deceased had a relationship with bus driver Santosh Sahu.

Since the young woman insisted for marriage, Santosh hatched up a plan to bump her off. He asked the deceased to accompany him for a ride.

On Monday night Santosh and conductor Bibhuti raped her near Ratagarh under Athgarh block inside the bus and later murdered her by hitting her head with a spanner.  Then they carried the victim’s body on the bus about ten km away and had thrown it into the river over the bridge on Mahanadi at Subarnapur Jatamundia.

“He asked the girl to come. Then he and the bus’s conductor cum helper Bibhuti Rout have raped her. Later they have hit her with a spanner meant for replacing wheels. The impact of the hitting was so hard that her skull had cracked at several places,” said Amaresh Panigrahi, SDPO, Banki.

After committing the crime they had fled the spot, he added.

Banki police have seized the bus and kept it at the Saranda beat house.

The Scientific team of the Banki police today recovered the blood stained seat cover from the bus wherein she was raped and murdered. The team has also recovered some parts of the deceased’s skull from it.

“She had left the house at 7 in the morning on Monday to visit her uncle’s house and has not returned since then. Those who have killed her should be hanged to death,” said the victim’s mother with tears in her eyes.

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Titlagarh, Aug 6:

Maoist posters demanding suspension of three ministers of Odisha having links with the chit fund scam were found in Boudh and Balangir districts this morning.

In the posters, the red rebels have demanded suspension of Law Minister Arun Sahoo, Housing and Urban Development Minister Pushpendra Singh Deo and Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Das Burma within 10 days, reports said.

According to sources, the posters, addressed to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, were found at Belgaon under Saintala police limits in Balangir and Veterinary centre at Manamunda in Boudh district.

On being informed about the incident, police reached the spot and seized the posters. Investigation into the matter is on.

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 6:

Tension gripped KIIT campus in Odisha capital this morning as students of the institute staged road blockade alleging misbehaviour with a girl student of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) by some unidentified youths last night.

According to sources, the girl was misbehaved by the youths at around 2 am when the former was on the way to NIFT hostel located inside KIIT college campus.

The agitating KIIT students alleged that though the incident took place near a ladies hostel and the inmates heard the girl screaming for help, the warden and security guard of the hostel didn’t come to her rescue despite being aware of the occurrence.

They further alleged that the warden didn’t help the girl saying that she is a student of NIFT and doesn’t belong to KIIT.

Protesting the incident, the students blocked KIIT-Sikharchandi road and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits. They have claimed that the incident got recorded through a CCTV camera and examination of the video footage by college authorities can reveal the identity of the accused.

“Primary investigation reveals that the girl was under some kind of medication. Prima facie we found that no such incident has happened in KIIT campus. We are examining the CCTV footage to ascertain the truth,” said Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrata Bhoi.

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 6:

The low pressure formed over northwest Bay of Bengal would trigger rainfall across Odisha till August 10, the Meteorological Department predicted.

Rainfall/thundershowers are likely to occur at most places over the districts of interior and coastal Odisha in the next 24 hours, the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre forecasted.

A rainfall of 240 mm was recorded in Sambalpur in the last two days, sources said. Similarly, 96.4 mm rainfall was recorded in Sonepur, 43.6 mm in Titlagarh and 47.4 mm in Balangir.

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 6:

Odisha government today relaxed the norms under National Food Security Act (NFSA) to avail subsidised foodgrains under the scheme.

Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Kumar Das Burma today announced a slew of changes for the applicants seeking ration card under NFSA.

“The criterion for applicants owning three room pucca houses has been relaxed. People having three room houses under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana (BPGY) are eligible to apply for the ration cards,” Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Das Burma informed at a press conference here today.

Besides, the Minister announced that the eligible beneficiaries who are yet to receive their ration card will get it in a month. This apart, the applicants whose applications have been rejected earlier and left out people can apply for the same.

Similarly, the deadline for surrendering the ration cards obtained by ineligible beneficiaries has been extended to September 30. The card holders will be exempted from repaying the money and no criminal action would be initiated against them if they return their cards within the stipulated time, Das Burma added.

Notably, there have been widespread protests across the state over levying of financial penalty and slapping of criminal cases beneficiaries availing the cards fraudulently.

“Those who have paid penalties will get their refund and criminal cases would be withdrawn against the ineligible beneficiaries,” he stated.

Earlier, the state government had appealed to the ineligible beneficiaries to surrender their ration cards by August 15.

In the backdrop of the development, the BJP today withdrew its proposed Rourkela bandh on August 11 over discrepancies in ration card distribution.

“Government has conceded to most of our demands over the distribution of ration cards,” Rourkela MLA Dilip Ray said.

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Phulbani, Aug 7:

Forest and Environment and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha was today shown black flags while he was on his way to flag off a marathon on the occasion of Biju Birth Centenary celebrations in Odisha’s Phulbani.

According to reports, the Minister was shown black flags by BJP activists at Gandhi Square here.

The policemen prevented the activists and snatched the black flags from them. The cops have detained over a dozen saffron party members for waving black flags during Arukha’s visit.

“We are opposing Ministers’ visit and would continue to do so,” a protesting member said.

On the other hand, the senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader denied having faced such type of protest here.

“No worker has shown black flag to me. They don’t have the courage to come near me,” Bikram Keshari Arukha said.

However, the marathon went off peacefully where hundreds of BJD workers and people from various walks of life participated in it. The marathon began from Gandhi Square and culminated at Biju Patnaik Square here. Elaborate security arrangements were made for the event.

Notably, the BJP workers have been protesting the BJD ministers’ visit at various places across the state after Union Minister Santosh Gangwar’s convoy was attacked during a rally in Bargarh by ruling party members.

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 7:

The BJP today accused the Odisha government of making an attempt to hide its incompetence by misleading the people of the state and alleged that letters were exchanged between it and Chhattisgarh over the controversial Kelo project on the upper catchment of river Mahanadi.

The saffron party placing facts on the dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh over the Mahanadi issue told reporters that in 2008 the then Engineer in Chief had sent a letter to Chhattisgarh on the Kelo project. The party alleged that the state government was now hiding that letter to garner political gains.

“Engineer in Chief of Water Resources department of our government S C Behera had written a letter to Chhattisgarh on October 4, 2008, referring to their letter on the project. This letter proves that our state government was aware of it and had kept the people in the dark as a consequence of which the people of the state are being deprived of their due share,” said Samir Mohanty vice president BJP state unit addressing the press conference.

“These letters clearly prove that the state government is pretending to be asleep and is trying to raise a dispute to gain political advantage out of it,” he added.

The BJD, on the other hand, has asked the BJP to make its stand clear vis a vis Odisha’s interests on the Mahanadi issue.

“The BJP should make its stand clear with regard to Odisha’s interest on the Mahanadi issue. So far the confusion arising out of the letters, the BJP has already said that it is going to bring out a white paper on it. The Central government has already admitted that the Central Water Commission has not done a study on how Odisha is going to be affected by projects upstream of Mahanadi. While Odisha is in dark about how it’s going to be  affected by these projects, the BJP pointing fingers at the state government and the administration is unfortunate,” said Sashi Bhusan Behera, BJD spokesperson in his reactions to the allegations made by the BJP over the Mahanadi issue.

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 7:

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced pension for handloom weavers to be disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.

During the launch of ‘Baristha Bunakar Sahayata Yojana’ on the occasion of National Handloom Day, Chief Minister announced pension scheme for handloom weavers in the state. Under the scheme, Rs 500 a month pension would be credited to the bank account of handloom weavers above the age of 60 and Rs 700 for weavers above 80.

“Today on this occasion of National Handloom Day, Odisha government launched Baristha Bunakar Sahayata Yojana for our weavers. Weavers having 20 years of working experience and above 60 years of age will get a monthly financial assistance of Rs 500 and after attaining the age of 80; it will be enhanced to Rs 700 per month. It will be directly credited to their bank accounts,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters after the launching function at Jaidev Bhawan here.

Earlier in the day, Patnaik greeted the weavers on National Handloom Day on Twitter.

“On #NationalHandloomDay, greetings to our weavers for carving a niche for #Odisha’s unique weaves around the globe,” Patnaik tweeted.

“People from the weavers’ community will be provided financial assistance of Rs 700 per month which will directly go to their bank accounts. We hope this will definitely help augment their financial resources,” Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts Minister Snehangini Chhuria said.

With this, around 8000 beneficiaries would be benefitted from the scheme.

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Aug 7:

The Chhattisgarh government has given verbal permission to BJD’s 12-member panel to visit the state for an on-spot assessment vis a vis Mahanadi water dispute.

Reports said the permission was granted to the panel following talks with Chhattisgarh Water Resources Minister Brij Mohan Agarwal. However, the panel is awaiting a written permission from the Chhattisgarh government. The neighbouring state government is likely to give its written permission today to the panel for its visit, reports added.

On getting written permission from the Chhattisgarh government, the 12-member panel of the BJD would visit the state on a two-day visit beginning August 9.

Sources said the panel to be led by BJD’s Rajya Sabha MP Prasanna Acharya would make a spot assessment of Arpa project on August 9 and have a meeting with the chief engineer at Bilaspur. Similarly, apart from making a spot assessment of Kelo project on August 10 would also make an assessment of seven barrages under construction, the sources added.

The 12-member panel constituted under directions of Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik to visit Chhattisgarh for an assessment in connection with the Mahanadi water dispute held its first meeting yesterday.

The panel discussed different aspects in the presence of technical advisors-three former Engineer in Chief (EICs) Sarat Mohanty, Sridhar Behera, and Ramesh Rath for about two hours.

“In the first phase, we will make an assessment of Kelo and Arpa projects and seven barrages. Later we will fix a date for our second phase visit. In the second phase, we will have a reality check on the proposed linking of Pairi and Mahanadi and make an assessment of expansion of Tambar Dam,” panel member and BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb had told reporters after the meeting yesterday.

The 12-member panel with Rajya Sabha MP Prasanna Acharya as its chairperson will have Ministers Debi Prasad Mishra, Pradip Amat, Sanjay Das Burma, senior western Odisha leader Mangala Kissan, Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) president Kishore Mohanty, former minister Padmanav Behera, Redhakhol MLA Rohit Pujari, Convener of Krushak Morcha Sushant Singh, BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb, former minister Pramila Mallick, Sambalpur MLA Raseswari Panigrahi and former EICs of Water Resources department Sarat Mohanty, Sridhar Behera, and Ramesh Chandra Rath as its prominent members.

The panel after making an assessment will submit a report to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 8:

The Odisha Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today approved a proposal to amend Odisha Official Language Act, 1954 and 13 other proposals.

The Cabinet also approved a proposal to amend the Orissa Electricity Duty Act-1961.

Similarly, a proposal to amend the Odisha Gram Panchayat Act 1964 was approved by the Cabinet. According to the proposal reservation for the post of sarpanch will apply for one term instead of the current two terms.

Besides, the Cabinet gave its approval to the Kalinga Sikshya Sathi Yojana. Under the scheme children of parents whose annual income does not exceed Rs 6 lakh will be provided with education loans for higher education at one percent interest rate.

Further, the Cabinet approved proposals to establish Odisha Mineral Exploration Corporation, provision of minerals to industries through Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) and amendment to Odisha Prosecution Service Rules among others.

Bhubaneswar, Aug 8:

The Odisha cabinet on Monday approved setting up of the Odisha Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (OMECL) to tap virgin mining fields and streamline procedures for mineral exploration.

The objective of the corporation will be to undertake scientific mineral exploration of ore bearing virgin area of the state to at least G2 level (general exploration) for facilitating the auction of mineral blocks, said Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi.

The corporation which will be a subsidiary of Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), could also take up sponsored exploration work from various mining leaseholders and other organisations.

The initial paid-up capital is expected to be Rs 5 crore, while the total authorised capital would be Rs 20 crore for the company, said Padhi.

The Cabinet also approved the amendment in the long term ore linkage policy through OMC.

The Odisha government has allowed OMC to sell mineral to end-user industries having their own mining leases to meet the shortfall of the industries. Earlier, OMC was supplying iron ore and chrome to the industries, which had no mines.

Now OMC will supply ores to the end-user industries following recommendations of a committee chaired by the Industry Secretary, on annual supply agreement, said Padhi.

The government has also allowed OMC to export the raw material remaining unsold after meeting the requirement of long term linkage, annual supply agreement and e-auction.

“This will enable OMC to meet the requirement of minerals of state-based end-user industries and dispose of the remaining stocks after meeting the requirement of state-based industries and successful bidders in e-auction,” said Padhi. (IANS)

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Berhampur, Aug 8:

The local fishermen are a worried lot as schools of dead fish and other aquatic animals have washed ashore the Gopalpur coast in Odisha’s Ganjam district over the past four days affecting their livelihood.

The panicked fishermen have stopped venturing into the sea after the carcasses of the fish were spotted along the coast since Friday.

The fisher folks have blamed urea transported from the port and industrial effluents for the mass grave of the marine products.

According to sources, around 12 villages near the Gopalpur port depend on fishing for their living. The perturbed populace had brought this incident to the notice of the officials following which the latter had visited the spot on Sunday and collected samples for testing to trace any contamination.

“The fishes are dying out of water pollution or some other poisonous substance. We have put forth our demands for an immediate investigation into the incident and give us the correct information on this,” B Simadri, President of District Fish Workers Union said.

A three-member high-level scientific team from Puri-based Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Directorate of Fisheries, and Fishery College of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) visited the fishing jetty near Gopalpur port for an on-spot investigation on Sunday.

The officials interacted with the local fishermen, probed whether the industrial effluents are getting into the sea and urea being washed into the sea.

“We have collected water samples. The PH is also on the higher side. We will be in a position to give a detailed report on the sixth day as we have to take BOD reading for five days,” CMFRI principal scientist, Rita Jayshankar said.

“We have collected samples from various places, including the jettey mouth. After the tests, we can give you a concrete report citing reasons under what circumstances this has taken place,” assistant director of fisheries (marine) Sarat Chandra Das said.

Notably, this is first such incident in the port town where thousands of fishes and other marine species have died due to unknown reasons.

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 8:

The BJD’s 12-member panel formed to study the impact of projects upstream of Mahanadi on Odisha will visit Chhattisgarh tomorrow.

“After making an on-spot survey of Kelo project we will hold discussions with their officials at Raigarh and then visit Bilaspur. After holding discussions with Chhattisgarh officials at Bilaspur we will study as much as possible barrages out of the seven barrages being constructed on river Mahanadi,” said Prasanna Acharya chairperson of the BJD panel.

On the other hand, Chhattisgarh Water Resources Minister Brij Mohan Agarwal today reiterated that only 20% of Mahanadi’s water is being utilized by Chhattisgarh and Odisha and the rest 80% is draining into the sea while hitting out at Odisha for having not undertaken any project on Mahanadi after the construction of Hirakud Dam.

“Our EIC and engineers will be present and they will make available to them all information that they solicit on the projects. The combined use of Mahanadi’s water by Chhattisgarh and Odisha is only 20% and the rest drains into the sea. Odisha even after 50 years of establishment of Hirakud Dam hasn’t constructed any structure on Mahanadi,” said Agarwal today.

Former Congress Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Ajit Jogi who has floated a fledgling outfit Chhattisgarh Janata Congress today said: “We oppose Odisha’s opposition to Chhattisgarh projects. We will peacefully in true Gandhian manner oppose any move of Odisha to stall these projects.”

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Aug 9:

The Orissa High Court today granted conditional bail to Tripura cadre IPS officer Joydeep Nayak in the case pertaining to his alleged involvement in misappropriation of Rs 88 lakh meant for the computer education of SC/ST students and self-help groups (SHGs).

The High Court allowed Nayak to go bail subject of furnishing of two sureties worth Rs one lakh, property bond of Rs 50 lakh by him, court sources said. Further, the court ordered the IPS officer to submit his passport to the investigating officer (IO) in the case.

It may be mentioned here that the senior police officer was the sixth person to be arrested for their alleged involvement in siphoning off Rs 88 lakh meant for the computer education of SC/ST students and self-help groups (SHGs). He was arrested from Ghaziabad in the third week of July. Earlier, Nayak was suspended from service for his alleged involvement in the scam.

The officer, said to be the prime accused in the case, was on deputation to Odisha till December 2015.

During his tenure as the IG of SC & ST Protection Cell, HRPC, the scam allegedly took place in connivance with the staff of the department and private players.

According to reports, Nayak had undergone a ligament surgery on his leg at the Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi and was discharged from the hospital on June 22. Since then, he was on the run and had remained incommunicado.

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Aug 9:

The Orissa High Court today kept its verdict reserved after completing its hearing on the bail plea of Odisha comedy actor Tattwa Prakash Satpathy alias Papu Pom Pom in the alleged casting couch case against him, court sources said.

The court also completed its hearing on the bail plea of the comedy artist’s aide Pradipta Swain alias Gitu, the sources added.

The court is likely to pronounce its verdict today, court sources said.

Papu, who is accused of sexually exploiting a minor girl on the pretext of giving her a break in movies, had filed a bail petition with the High Court on July 27 and the court had scheduled the hearing for August 3, however, the hearing could not take place as the police had failed to submit the case diary (CD) in the matter.

Earlier, the Khordha District and Sessions Court on July 11 had rejected the bail plea of Papu in the much talked about case.

Notably, the Twin City Commissionerate Police had arrested Papu and his aide Pradipta on June 30 from an apartment in Puri and produced them before the residential court of the Khordha District and Sessions Judge.

The duo is currently lodged in the Jharpada Jail in Bhubaneswar.

The Rangeela Toka-fame actor has been charged under sections 354(A), 506, 509 of the IPC and sections 8, 12 and 17 of the POCSO Act.

Bhubaneswar, Aug 9:

The development of Jharsuguda airport in Odisha will be completed by June 2018, an official said on Tuesday.

Taking a review meeting, Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi directed the Airport Authority of India (AAI), Jharsuguda District Collector and other officials to complete all the defined works within the scheduled time.

Padhi said that Jharsuguda Airport is being developed through joint funding from AAI and the Government of Odisha.

The state government had signed an agreement with AAI on July 30, 2014, to develop the airstrip at an estimated cost of Rs 210 crore to make it the state’s second largest operational airport, after Biju Patnaik International Airport.

While the state government would put in Rs 75 crore, AAI would provide the remaining Rs 135 crore to develop the airport, said an official.

AAI has been handed over 106.23 acres of land out of which 51.8 acres is government land, and 54.43 acres is private land. Stage-1 clearance has been obtained for 9.6 acres of forest land, the official said.

The tender has been awarded for works like construction of pavement, passenger terminal building, service block, ATC tower and staff quarters. (IANS)

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 9:

Senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra today dismissed the idea of constituting a joint control board for finding a solution to the Mahanadi water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh while describing it as a ‘toothless board’.

Mohapatra advised the state government to formally propose the Centre for constituting a river board instead of the joint control board suggested by the Centre to resolve the Mahanadi water sharing dispute between Odisha and the neighbouring state. Odisha’s interests can be only protected by the constitution of river board, he added at a press conference here.

Odisha government should under no circumstances agree for a joint control board, Mohapatra argued.

“Joint control board will not be in the interest of Odisha. The joint control board is a toothless board. It has no power. It is not supported by any law. As per law joint control board has no powers to resolve disputes. I have attended joint control board meetings and I am telling it from my own experience that under no circumstances should Odisha agree for a joint control board. I want to place this demand before the state government,” Mohapatra pointed out.

Responding to a pointer from reporters that some are batting in favour of the constitution of a joint control board as proposed by the Central government, the senior BJP leader and a former Water Resources Minister said: “Those who are arguing for a joint control board have the least idea on it.”

“For that reason, my specific proposal to the state government will be to formally propose the Central government for constituting a river board as per provisions of the River Board Act 1956, which is a Central Act. Only, the constitution of a river board can safeguard the interests of Odisha since joint control board is only an advisory body,” Mohapatra clarified.

“Secondly, the state government should make public the project report of Hirakud Dam which was prepared by Visvesvaraya. A copy of that is with the Odisha government. It has been clearly stated therein that Odisha has two-third rights and that of Madhya Pradesh was one-third. The state government should immediately make public that report for Odisha’s interest,” the senior BJP leader demanded.

Mohapatra also advised Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh to refrain from making provocative statements repeatedly without facts are in fact making the issue go out of control in Odisha.

“Thirdly, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and his Water Resources Minister by repeatedly issuing provocative statements without the backing of facts are making the situation go out of control in Odisha,” Mohapatra said.

Giving details about the projects being constructed by Chhattisgarh upstream of Mahanadi Mohapatra warned that these projects would severely affect both irrigation and power generation capacity of Hirakud Dam during the non-monsoon period.

“They (Chhattisgarh) have constructed nine barrages. Apart from the nine barrages, they are going to construct three dams. The three dams are Pairi-Mahanadi, Arpa-Bhaisajhar, Tandula and Kelo. These three dams and nine barrages have been the reason of loss for Odisha. This will decrease the non-monsoon inflow into Hirakud Dam. With 3.91 million acre feet water Hirakud reservoir attains a level of 630 feet. We will be using this water for irrigation and power generation. During the non-monsoon period, we will require minimum 2 million acre feet of water failing which irrigation and power generation will be affected. We should be clear that 3.91 million acre-feet and 2 million acre feet water is our minimum requirement. So it is clear that we will be affected by two million acre-feet of water. With the construction of these dams and barrages Odisha will be deprived of the water held by them,” Mohapatra explained.

It may be noted here that Mohapatra’s today’s statement is in contrast to Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s statement that formation of joint control board would be in the interest of Odisha.

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 9:

Odisha’s soccer prodigy Chandan Nayak’s Germany dreams will be realised soon as the necessary document needed to obtain a passport has been provided to him by city Mayor.

The budding footballer faced a hurdle to obtain a passport as he did not have a birth certificate, a must-have document needed for the travel permit as a proof of age.

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Mayor Anant Narayan Jena’s assurance to help him procure the certificate came as a blessing in disguise for the talented footballer to train in the European club.

The 11-year-old from Sabar Sahi Slum in the city has been selected to train at Bayern Munich, the iconic football club in Germany, as an academy player. He will get training for two months.

He was selected to train at Bayern Munich at an all-India competition at Pune recently.

Notably, the Bayern Munich Junior Team was founded in 1902 and it has produced some of Europe’s top footballers including Thomas Müller, Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Holger Badstuber, Joshua Kimmich and Owen Hargreaves.

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Aug 10:

The Orissa High Court today granted conditional bail to Odisha comedy actor Tattwa Prakash Satpathy alias Papu Pom Pom and his aide Pradipta Swain alias Gitu in the minor girl casting couch case, informed Papu’s lawyer Debasnana Das.

The High Court allowed Papu to go on bail subject of furnishing of two sureties and a bail bond of Rs 20,000.

The court has asked Papu to cooperate in the investigation process and not to influence witnesses in the case, Das said.

The court had yesterday kept its verdict reserved after completing its hearing on the bail pleas of the duo.

Papu, who is accused of sexually exploiting a minor girl on the pretext of giving her a break in movies, had filed a bail petition with the High Court on July 27 and the court had scheduled the hearing for August 3. However, the hearing could not take place as the police had failed to submit the case diary in the matter.

Earlier, the Khordha District and Sessions Court on July 11 had rejected the bail plea of Papu in the much talked about case.

Notably, the Twin City Commissionerate Police had arrested Papu and his aide Pradipta on June 30 from an apartment in Puri and produced them before the residential court of the Khordha District and Sessions Judge.

The Rangeela Toka-fame actor has been charged under sections 354(A), 506, 509 of the IPC and sections 8, 12 and 17 of the POCSO Act.

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 10:

A low pressure area formed over Northwest Bay of Bengal has turned into deep depression and is likely is trigger rainfall across Odisha in the next 24 hours, the Meteorological Department predicted.

Rainfall/thundershowers are likely to occur at most places over the districts of north Odisha and at many places over the districts of south Odisha, the local Meteorological Centre forecasted, adding that heavy to very heavy with extremely heavy rainfall likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of north Odisha in the next 24 hours.

Strong and gusty surface wind with speed reaching 50 to 60 kmph gusting 70 kmph may prevail along and off Odisha coast. Sea condition would be rough to very rough in Odisha coast. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into sea.

Local cautionary signal number-3 (LC-III) has been hoisted at all ports in the state.