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Keonjhar

Traditional sword puja performed in Binjabahal

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Keonjhar, October 10 (LocalWire): The locals in the Telkoi block here observed the traditional worship of sword on Vijayadashmi, the tenth day of the Durga puja.

The traditional worship of sword concluded with the procession from Binjabahal village, 65 km from here, to Telkoi and handing over of the sword to the police officer at the police station

The ritual was started in 1931 by the King of Keonjhar Sri Balabhadra Bhanj after he appointed people from Binjabahal, Oria, Kaliahota, and Nuangada as Paikas (soldiers) on the Dhenkanal border for the protection of the Charigada region in the block.

Charigada is the bordering area of Keonjhar and the Dhenkanal district.

As per their tradition the head of the Paikas worship the sword from Mahasaptami, the seventh day of Durga puja.

On Vijayadasami, the Paikas headed by their leader (Dalapati) take out a procession, dressed in traditional attire, including the traditional weapons.

The procession with traditional dance and music proceeds to the Telkoi police station where the sword is handed over to in-charge of the police station.

During the procession, the Paikas display several traditional warrior art forms.

Following the tradition, Dalapati Jagamohan Sahu offered puja to the historical sword from Mahasaptami and handed it over to the inspector-in-charge of Telkoi police station.

Later, the police officer offered puja to the sword and returned it back to the Dalapati. The officer also felicitated the warriors and distributes prasad.

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Villages on high alert as a herd of 23 elephants enter Keonjhar forest area

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Keonjhar, September 10 (LocalWire): A herd of 23 wild elephants, including tuskers from Jharkhand and Similipal tiger reserve, has sneaked into forest areas of Keonjhar district sparking a fresh bout of man-elephant conflict.

According to reports, the elephants have also caused extensive damage to the cropland and destroyed three houses in Baikula village under Patana forest range

Skilled forest personnel of elephant squads have stepped up the vigil and are on the job to chase away the elephants back to their original habitat, a forest officer informed.

Keonjhar is home to 50 elephants as per the last conducted census of the animals. The migration of elephants from Jharkhand and Similipal to Keonjhar forest has become a recurring feature. It’s the migration path of these animals.

“It’s not humanly possible to deal with the straying wild elephants. We are adopting precautionary measures and have alerted the locals through our network of elephant squad forest staff to check man-elephant confrontation. Besides the squads are keeping a close eye on the movement of the elephants near the railway track,” a forest official said.

According to the Global Positioning System (GPS) teams that are tracking the movement of these elephants, the animals that had entered into the village last night have moved towards the forest in the morning.

The forest department has warned the villagers not to venture into elephant-infested forest areas.

“They have been told to stay alert on the possible intrusion of animals and promptly disseminate it to forest personnel,” forest official stated.

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Lady forest guard suspended in elephants death case, show-cause notice to two

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Keonjhar, August 24 (LocalWire): Taking stringent action in the case related to the death of three elephants that were hit by trucks and a bus on Saturday, the office of Keonjhar Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) has suspended a lady forest guard Pranayani Amanta of the Ghatagaon forest range.

The DFO Santosh Joshi also issued show-cause notices to the forest ranger Ashok Kumar Nayak and a forester Sashi Bhusan Barik of Ghatagaon forest range.

“The guard was suspended for negligence in duty and action will be taken on the other two persons after we receive their reply on the show cause notice,” the DFO said.

Earlier forest department arrested the drivers of truck and bus, who killed the wild elephants on Thursday night near Bonajodi village on National Highway number 20 under the Ghatagaon police station.

According to the forest department, they are keeping a vigil on the movement of elephants in Keonjhar, mostly in the areas along the national highway and railway line.

Elephant driving squad have been deployed in different areas for the protection of humans.

They create awareness among the villagers to avoid going near the elephants, not to tease the elephant and to remain inside the house in elephant movement areas.

The squad also tries to driving the elephants from human habitations into the forest with the help of local people.

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Ore transportation via NH20 suspended after elephant deaths

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Keonjhar, August 23 (LocalWire): Keonjhar mining department suspended iron ore transportation of three transport agencies to Paradip port and other areas through National highway 20, after elephant deaths on Thursday night.

LD Nayak, deputy director of mines, Joda, said ‘We have temporarily stopped transportation of iron ore to protect wild animals.

We told the mining lessees and licensees to not engage vehicles through transport agencies, till further order.’

Three wild elephants including two ten-year-old female and one-year-old female calf died after being hit by a truck followed by a private bus on NH 20 near Balijodi village under Ghatagaon PS area, about 60 kms from here.

Principal Chief Conservator of forest (wildlife) Ajaya Mohapatra and regional chief conservator of Forest, Rourkela, Lingaraj Otta, along with divisional forest officer, Keonjhar, Santosh Joshi, went to the accident site to inquire into the incident.

‘We will report to the government after the inquiry is complete,’ said DFO Joshi.

According to forest department officials there are about 120 elephants that travel in different forests in Keonjhar forest division. About six to seven herds move about in Ghatagaon forest range area.

After the incident, forest department is on high alert to curb further accidents.

‘A bus and two trucks have been seized and their drivers arrested. Further investigation is going on,’ the DFO added.

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Truck mows down two elephants in Keonjhar

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Keonjhar, August 22 (LocalWire): An adult female elephant and its calf were killed and another female elephant was seriously injured on Thursday morning when a speeding iron-ore laden truck hit a herd crossing the National Highway number 20, near Balijhar village under Ghatagaon forest range in the mineral-rich Keonjhar district.

The mishap took place at around 3 am when a herd of 10 elephants was trying to cross the busy highway.

“The female elephant and the calf were crushed under the speeding truck and died on the spot,” Keonjhar Forest Division forest officer Santosh Kumar Joshi informed, adding that the veterinary surgeons were trying to save the injured female adult elephant.

“The mishap site is the movement corridor of wild elephants and they usually cross the highway during late afternoon hours. The herd’s movement was earlier tracked by the Global Positioning System (GPS),” he said.

Joshi also informed that a departmental inquiry has been initiated into the tragic death of the elephants.

Keonjhar is home to 40 elephants as per the last conducted animal census. Besides, elephants from Jharkhand often enter the Keonjhar forest region through this corridor. The animals usually stray in from Similpal tiger reserve in Mayurbhanj district and Jharkhand state.

According to the forest department officials, as many as 149 elephants are currently ensconced in the forest.

“We have taken precautionary measures to alert people through our network of elephant squad forest staffs to check man-elephant confrontation. The squads also keep a close eye on the movement of these animals near railway tracks,” the officer said.

While skilled service group of elephant chasers keeps a watch on these animals, the GPS tracking teams are used to spot the movement of these elephants, he stated.

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Students’ protest against poor infrastructure of Keonjhar Govt Engg College

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Keonjhar, August 9 (LocalWire): Hundreds of students from Government Engineering College, Keonjhar, today took out a rally in Keonjhar town protesting against the college authorities’ apathy towards their living conditions in hostels, poor infrastructure in the college and placement.

They rallied to the Collector’s office from Kali Padia and held up utensils and placards while shouting slogans against the college authorities.

Collector Ashish Thakre assured them of help and urged them to return to their college in the afternoon.

They requested the Collector to sort out the problems regarding water and electricity, placement, play ground, canteen, roads and other issues.

‘Despite several requests, when the college administration did not take any steps, we were forced to go to the Collector with our demands,’ said the students.

‘We have already started working towards solving the electricity and water problems.

Electricity department has promised to solve the problem within a month.

We have also discussed with different companies for placement of students and asked the principal to solve other internal problems,’ Thakre said.

The students said they are facing water and electricity problems since several years.

Due to frequent power outages, they are facing difficulties both in college and hostel.

The college is situated away from Keonjhar town and is surrounded by hills and forests, where there is always fear of wild animals and reptiles, they alleged.

The road connected to the college is also not properly maintained and they also have problems travelling.

Similarly, due to lack of street lights it was imperative to go out in the evenings.

The college also has no play ground, parking place, cafeteria, shelter and seating area for students and cannot pass their breaks properly.

Poor sanitation due to lack of proper cleanliness is another problem they face, the students said.

Principal of the Government Engineering College, Keonjhar, Trilochan Sahu, said, ‘We have already taken steps to solve their problems.’

There are about 1000 students who study in this college.

Out of them only five hundred have got accommodation inside the campus while others stay outside the campus.

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Keonjhar engineering college students protest government apathy

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Keonjhar, August 7 (LocalWire): Demanding basic amenities, including water and electricity, in college the students of Government Engineering College in Keonjhar today staged a protest here.

The students also gave a memorandum to the district collector Ashish Thakre demanding that the authorities fulfill their demands by 20 August, failing which they will be forced to stage a demonstration.

Students allege that despite several protest and reminders their demands for basic amenities have not yet been fulfilled and neither the college administration nor the district administration has taken any steps to resolve their problems.

According to the students they are facing water and electricity shortage for several years.

Reports indicate that due to frequent electricity break down students face difficulties both in college and at the hostel.

Besides, since the college is located far away from Keonjhar town and is surrounded by hill and forest there is always the fear of wild animals and reptiles. However, they alleged that the road connecting the college is neither properly maintained nor has street light, which makes it dangerous in the evening.

The students are also demanding playground, parking place, cafeteria, as well as shelter and seating area for the students. Poor sanitation due to lack of proper cleanliness is another problem that they want the authorities to take care of.

 

According to the college Principal Trilochan Sahu, the frequent disruption in power supply has caused a severe problem at the institution. “Similarly the water supply is affected due to a frequent power cut.

We have requested the electricity department to provide a separate connection for ensuring uninterrupted power supply to the college. Steps are being taken to solve other problems too,” he said.

According to the college sources, there are about one thousand students studying in the college in different streams of which over five hundred students are hostellers.

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Keonjhar Balika Vidyalaya to recruit 46 for several jobs

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Keonjhar, August 6 (LocalWire): The district Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya will recruit 46 for part-time teacher and several posts on contractual basis for female candidates.

Initially the candidates will be appointed fora period of 11 months. Later, based on their performance their period of engagement can be renewed.

Interested candidates have been advised to submit their job applications before August 24.

The posts of warden, part-time teacher, accountant, and cook are vacant in Balika Vidyalayas of around 10 blocks in the districts.

Out of 46 vacancies, four are for the warden, 25 are for the part-time teacher, 10 are for accountant and seven are for both head and assistant cook post.

As per the notification, the candidates appearing for the job must be between 30-50 age groups for warden and 18-35 age groups for the part-time teacher, accountant, and cook posts.

The candidates eligible for warden and teacher posts must have completed their graduation examinations from any recognized college and university, and for the accountant, the candidates must have compelted graduation in commerce along with computer knowledge.

The selected candidates will receive a salary in the pay band of, Rs 11500 for the warden, Rs 5000 for the teacher, Rs 7100 for the post of accountant, and Rs 4400 for the head cook, Rs 4300 for assistant cook post.

Aspiring candidates can fill up their details in the application available on the official website www.kendujhar.nic.in.

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Bravery award winner held for raping minor

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Keonjhar, July 23 (LocalWire): Keonjhar police detained a bravery award-winner for the alleged rape of a minor. The incident took place in a village under Champua police station area on Sunday.

Police said the boy, who himself is also a minor called the girl to his house and allegedly raped her.

The girl’s mother lodged a complaint in Champua police station after the victim narrated the incident.

The accused will be produced before the court of principal juvenile judge after routine investigations, police said.

Manoranjan Pradhan, IIC Champua, said, ‘Medical examination of the victim has been conducted. Further investigations are on.’

The boy received the bravery award few years back after he rescued three women from drowning in Baitarani river.

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Tusker kills two in Keonjhar

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Keonjhar, July 11 (LocalWire): Tuskers killed two people and injured two in the last three days in Keonjhar forest division.

On Wednesday late night, a tusker attacked a house in Malda village under Bamebari PS limit and killed a seven-year-old girl.

The tusker ransacked the house of Bajia Munda while the family was sleeping.

It pulled his daughter from the bed and crushed her to death.

Two other children sustained injuries when the wall fell on them while they were sleeping.

Earlier a 55-year-old woman was killed by a tusker in Danla village under Banspal block.

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