Ganjam

2 aides of Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda arrested

Berhampur: Two alleged aides of Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda, including one who acted as his courier, were arrested from Badagada in Odisha's Ganjam district, police said on Monday. Bubu Mohapatra and Agni Pollia were apprehended by a special police team on Sunday night about 100-km from here, Ganjam superintendent of police Ashish Kumar Singh said. Police also seized a bagful of medicines from them.

Mohapatra was identified as the one who acted as a courier between Panda in hiding and his wife Mili Panda outside, the officer said. He was also involved in handing over of arms, ammunition and cash of Rs 3.99 lakh to Sabyasachi Panda through two ultras. These were seized by police last week from Talapatama jungle near Badagada.

"The arrested duo have revealed a lot of information regarding operation of Panda's group," the SP said, adding that Agni's link with the Maoist outfit was being verified. Police had arrested two Maoists - K Anita, head of the women wing of Panda's group and Bikram Mallick, one of the overground workers of the left wing extremists, from Talapatama jungle on Wednesday night. Several arms, ammunition, cash and Maoist literature were seized from them.

Four persons who had handed over the items to the Maoists, however, managed to escape from the spot. During interrogation, Anita and Mallik allegedly confessed to handing over of certain items to the Maoist leader and that these were given by Mili....more    

Odisha: Chennai-bound train mows down 6 elephants

At least six elephants were killed after being hit by a train in Odisha's Ganjam district early on Sunday, officials said. The Chennai-bound Coromandel Express hit a herd of elephants between Rambha and Huma stations, about 150 km from Bhubaneswar. ...  

Odisha: Mother, child poisoned to death for dowry

Berhampur (Odisha): A 22-year-old woman and her one-and-a-half-year old daughter were poisoned to death at Govindapur in Ganjam district allegedly by her in-laws who were demanding dowry, police said on Wednesday. The deceased were identified as Sanjeeta Pradhan and her daughter Puja. Her husband Niranjan was away at Surat at the time of the incident on Tuesday night. Police detained Sanjeeta's mother-in-law and elder bother of the husband in connection...  

Naxals on the run; Centre sends more forces to Orissa

Johannesburg: South African skipper Graeme Smith married Irish singer and model Morgan Deane at a private ceremony in Cape Town, media reported on Sunday. The Sunday Times weekly newspaper said the couple exchanged vows at an intimate ceremony at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Claremont on Saturday and afterwards joined family and friends at a reception overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Both Smith, 30, and Deane, 26, took to Twitter just...