Salepur
Sugarcane Crop Gutted
Sugarcane crop, cultivated in more than 15 acres, was destroyed following a fire at Badapatasundarpur village under Kantapada block on Tuesday. The affected farmers alleged that fire brigade from Adaspur refused to come to the spot on the plea that on a previous occasion, some locals had damaged their pipes.
Koraput
Teacher’s Body Exhumed
Body of a retired teacher was exhumed by police from Barighat village under Dasmanthpur block on Thursday. The deceased is Trinath Muduli of the same village. He was allegedly murdered by a primary school teacher Subhasit Muduli and his associate Bibi Disari over past enmity on February 12. After murdering him, the two buried his body on the bank of a river in the village.
Workers Stage Dharna
Members of Koraput unit of Nikhila Odisha Gram Rozgar Sevak Sangha staged a dharna in front of the Collector’s office on Thursday demanding fulfilment of their five-point charter of demands. They are demanding regularisation of jobs, promotion as Panchayat Executive Officers, financial assistance in case of accidents on duty and pay hike of `9,350. They submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister and Governor of Odisha in this regard through the ADM, Ekadashi Jena.
Berhampur
Headmaster Held for Taking Bribe
Headmaster of Government Girls High School in Digapahandi, Ladu Kishore Sahu, was arrested by Vigilance officials for allegedly taking bribe of `2,000 from a peon of the school. He had demanded the money from the peon, Hrushikesh Subudhi, to complete the official procedures for issuance of a Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN) card. Subudhi had submitted an application to the headmaster to be sent to the competent authority for issuance of PRAN card in his favour. When Sahu demanded `2,000 for doing the work, Subudhi informed the Vigilance officials, who laid a trap and caught the accused red-handed.
Kendrapara
Woman Killed in Croc Attack
A 62-year-old woman, Chayamani Bag of Balarampur village under Kandira gram panchayat in the district, was killed after she was attacked by a crocodile on Thursday. She was grazing cattle near river Patasala when the reptile attacked her. Another woman, who was present at the spot, informed the villagers. Although forest officials rushed to the spot, they could find only an amputated hand and a portion of Bag’s saree from the river bank.