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The Wire
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
As Law and Order In Odisha Goes From Bad to Worse, Majhi Government Acts Only When Forced To
Some say the series of violent incidents in the last year or so point to the government losing its grip on administration. Bhubaneswar: From an Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officer being assaulted in his office to a college-going woman being gang-raped on a well-known beach and minority community members facing repeated attacks, the law and order situation in Odisha seems to have gone from bad to worse during the one-year rule of the state's maiden BJP government led by chief minister Mohan Majhi. What is even more appalling is that in almost each of these cases, the government acted only after protests erupted and public pressure mounted, leaving it with no other choice than to initiate action against the guilty. In the most recent case, supporters of a senior BJP leader, who was the party's candidate for the Bhubaneswar Central assembly seat in the 2024 elections, barged into the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation's office located along a busy thoroughfare on June 30 and dragged an OAS officer out into the foyer of the building. He was kicked and punched repeatedly as people watched helplessly. As the video of the incident went viral and opposition parties as well as members of the OAS Association protested, the five accused, including a BJP corporator, were suspended from the primary membership of the party. However, there was no action against the senior party leader who was alleged to have orchestrated the humiliating and inhuman assault on a serving officer inside his office. The man, who is believed to enjoy the blessings of BJP bigwigs, finally surrendered before the police after OAS officers across the state went on a wildcat strike, bringing administrative work to a halt. The assault on the OAS officer came in the wake of the gang-rape of a 20-year-old woman on the Gopalpur beach on June 15 during the Raja festival that celebrates womanhood. The woman, who had gone to the beach with a male friend, was assaulted by a group of three men who were assisted by seven others, including two minors. Though the accused were arrested after the news spread like wildfire, causing acute embarrassment to the government, the administration is yet to explain why there were no proper security arrangements on the beach, which is a well-known tourist destination. Only a few days later, the state hit the headlines again, with a 31-year-old woman from the predominantly tribal Mayurbhanj district being raped by four men. The woman was dragged out of her house and taken to a second location where she was sexually assaulted by the accused, who allegedly threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the incident. Former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Latika Pradhan lambasted the Majhi government for failing to protect the dignity of women while making tall claims about empowering them. 'All this talk about the empowerment of women is bunkum. The fact is that on an average at least four women are raped almost every month in the state. Under this government, Odisha has become the most unsafe place' for women in the state, alleged Pradhan, adding that the law and order situation had collapsed with all kinds of crimes being committed. 'There are allegations of cannabis and liquor being seized from the vehicle of a BJP MLA. What kind of a government are they running?' she asked. Former Congress MLA Lalatendu Mohapatra also accused the BJP government of soft-pedalling cases of assault on women and minorities. 'Our party has been carrying on a campaign on this issue. Our MLAs raised the issue in the state assembly, but the government instead of acting upon the cases brought to light by them chose to initiate punitive action against them. But our fight on the issue continues and we will not rest till women get justice,' said Mohapatra. The Majhi government started its tenure off on the wrong foot, with an army officer and his lawyer fiancee being harassed at a police station in Bhubaneswar within months of the government coming to power. The case, which made the national headlines, led to state-wide protests that forced the government to suspend five police personnel, including the inspector in-charge of the Bharatpur police station, where the incident had taken place. However, the suspension of four of them was withdrawn in less than a year. The fledgling Majhi government faced its first major challenge when communal tension gripped the Balasore town barely six days after the government was sworn in. With clashes between two communities leaving at least 20 persons injured, the entire town had to be placed under curfew and some internet services had to be suspended. It took a few days for the situation in Balasore, the constituency of former Union minister Pratap Sarangi, to return to normal. However, the government appears to not have learned its lesson from the incident, as communal elements continued to feel emboldened and started targeting Christians. A violent incident was reported towards the end of last year from the Remuna area of Balasore, where two tribal women were tied to a tree and beaten up by a mob on suspicion of engaging in religious conversion. The mob, led by a man sporting a vermillion tika and shouting 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', also smeared the face of one of the women with the cake she had allegedly brought to celebrate the conversion of a Hindu man to Christianity. After a video of the incident went viral on social media, police detained four youths who were later released after apologising to the women they had assaulted. Such incidents, however, continue to be reported from different parts of the state. Last month, two Dalit men in Ganjam district were assaulted, partially tonsured and forced to eat grass and drink dirty drain water after being falsely accused of smuggling cattle. The incident took place in broad daylight in the district's Kharigumma village. The victims, Bulu Nayak (52) and Babul Nayak (43) of Singipur village, had reportedly purchased a cow and two calves from Haripur as part of a dowry arrangement for a family member's marriage ceremony, and were transporting the cattle to their village aboard a cargo auto-rickshaw. They were intercepted at Kharigumma by a group of self-styled ' go rakshak s' or cow protectors, who accused them of transporting cattle illegally. The group snatched their mobile phones and cash and demanded Rs 30,000 in exchange for releasing the animals. When the duo refused, the miscreants tied up their limbs, thrashed them and partially shaved their heads. They were forced to crawl for nearly two kilometres with blades of grass between their teeth and even made to drink dirty drain water. Arrests were made in the case only following public uproar and condemnation by the two major opposition parties, the BJD and the Congress. While the grand old party also sent a fact-finding team to the area, the National Human Rights Commission took cognisance of the incident as well. Political analyst Shashikant Mishra views these incidents as an alarming sign of the government losing its grip on administration. 'Crimes of this nature reflect poorly on the government, especially because the chief minister himself holds the home portfolio. Any popular government must first inspire confidence among people [with] efficient handling of law and order,' said Mishra. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
Hindustan Times
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Odisha services hit as OAS officers continue strike seeking arrest of BJP leader
Nearly 1,500 officers of the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) and Odisha Revenue Service (ORS) across more than 20 districts continued their indefinite mass leave on Thursday in protest against the assault on Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation additional commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo. Visuals from the alleged assault on an Odisha administrative officer. (Video grab) The strike, which began on July 1, has disrupted essential public services, leaving citizens grappling with delays in critical administrative processes, from land records to public grievance redressal, as the state government scrambles to address the escalating crisis. The flashpoint of this agitation was the incident on June 30 when Sahoo was dragged from his office chamber and assaulted by a group of miscreants allegedly at the behest of BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan. The attackers reportedly asked Sahu to apologise to Pradhan during a public grievance hearing, an act that the Odisha Administrative Service Association (OASA) has condemned as an 'assault on the dignity of public service.' A video of the incident, widely circulated on social media, sparked outrage among bureaucrats and the public, amplifying calls for swift justice. So far, the Police Commissionerate has arrested BJP corporator Aparaup Narayan Rout, Sanjeev Mishra, Sachikanta Swain, Rashmi Mahapatra and Debasish Pradhan. BJP has also suspended them from the party. Though the OAS officers initially agreed to postpone their strike after their meeting with chief minister on Monday, have refused to join work while making three 'non-negotiable' demands: the immediate arrest of Jagannath Pradhan who they called 'prime accused and kingpin', robust security measures for field-level officers such as tehsildars, block development officers, and sub-collectors; and exemplary action to restore confidence in the administrative framework. The association has vowed to continue the strike until these demands are met, with officers in districts like Cuttack, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Rayagada, Bolangir, Sonepur, Ganjam, and others joining the protest. The officers claim that Pradhan's actions have created an environment of fear and disrespect, making it difficult for them to discharge their duties effectively and impartially. The state government, caught off guard by the scale of the agitation, has appealed to the officers to resume work, citing the public interest. Revenue minister Suresh Pujari said this is not an appropriate time for officers to go on strike, especially with the ongoing Puri Ratha Yatra and prevailing flood-like conditions in parts of the state. He urged the officers to return to work and reiterated the state government is open to discussions. The state BJP leadership in Odisha seems to be backing Pradhan denying the allegations against him and calling the strike politically motivated. 'These are baseless accusations designed to divert attention from the government's failures,' a BJP spokesperson said. Pradhan met party's state unit president Manmohan Samal on Wednesday evening and said he has offered his full cooperation in whatever legal action is taken against him as per law. 'The state government will take a further call and if something is decided, we will inform,' he said.
Hans India
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
4-member team to assist Garg in Puri stampede probe
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Wednesday formed a four-member team to assist Development Commissioner Anu Garg to complete an inquiry into the Puri stampede within 30 days. Garg has been asked to conduct the administrative inquiry into the death of three persons and the injury to around 50 people in the stampede near Shree Gundicha temple in Puri during the Rath Yatra festivities on June 29. According to an office order issued by the General Administration and Public Grievance department, four Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officers have been included in the team. Joint Director of Estates and GA & PG department's Additional Secretary Manas Ranjan Samal, and Housing and Urban Development Department Additional Secretary Binaya Kumar Dash are part of the four-member group. Two others are Water Resources Department Additional Secretary Rashmi Ranjan Nayak and Works Department Additional Secretary Pradip Kumar Sahoo. Of the four OAS officers, Dash and Sahoo are presently deployed in the Rath Yatra duty and will remain in Puri till July 8, the order said. 'The officers concerned shall undertake the responsibility in addition to their regular duties. They are required to be present in the office of the Development Commissioner- cum-Additional Chief Secretary, Planning & Convergence Department, for approximately two hours daily, from 3 pm to 5 pm, to support the inquiry process,' it said. Hours after the stampede on June 29, the State government had ordered an administrative inquiry headed by Garg and asked her to complete the probe within 30 days. Garg had on Monday started her investigation into the incident and held discussions with the Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA ), the Puri Collector and the SP, besides other officials and temple servitors. The Development Commissioner said she would find out what led to the stampede situation and identify the people responsible for the incident. 'I would also see what more measures could be taken to avoid such incidents in future,' the Development Commissioner said. Apart from meeting different stakeholders, Garg said she would examine all CCTV footage, go through the deployment orders and whether the SOPs were being followed. On the day of the stampede, the State government shifted the Puri District Collector and the SP. A new Collector and a Superintendent of Police have been appointed, and seniorbureaucrat Aravind Agarwal was assigned to supervise the Rath Yatra affairs in Puri.
New Indian Express
01-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
OAS officers to go on mass leave from today; Naveen Patnaik flays BJP govt
BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) Association announced to go on mass leave from Tuesday to protest the attack on BMC additional commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo by alleged BJP-supported hooligans on the corporation premises on Monday. The state civil services body in its letter to all the OAS officers termed the brutal assault on Sahoo in broad daylight an attempt to humiliate government servants and instill fear among them. 'The incident is not an isolated one. A narrative has been set in the past one year to humiliate government servants and cause physical assault and mental agony to them. It is not only unprecedented and deeply disturbing but also represents a grave threat to the safety and dignity of officers across the state who are committed to upholding public service,' the association said. The association sought immediate and exemplary action against those involved in the attack and demanded implementation of robust measures for the safety and protection of officers at the workplace. 'Until then, as a mark of protest and to express our collective concern, members of the association will remain on mass leave,' it stated.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt forms 16-member panel to ensure Kotia's development
1 2 3 4 Bhubaneswar: To usher in development in Kotia, the govt on Thursday formed a committee that will help define the structure of an umbrella agency which will work to ensure progress in the region while also propagating Odia language, literature, tradition, culture and festivals in the disputed gram panchayat that both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh claim to be their own. The 16-member committee, to be headed by revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari, will define the special agency's structure, hierarchical and funding pattern, and convergence of schemes. It will also conduct a comparative analysis of schemes offered by Andhra and recommend measures for Kotia's development to chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, an order issued by the revenue and disaster management department stated. Additional chief secretary (revenue), Deoranjan Kumar Singh, will be the member convenor of the inter-departmental committee, which will include secretaries of home, law, rural and ST/SC development among others. A govt officer said the committee is the outcome of a meeting chaired by the chief minister on Kotia on April 22 when the govt decided to form a single agency headed by an officer belonging to the Odisha Administrative Service or Odisha Revenue Service with an independent office for the development of Kotia. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Добро пожаловать в Аравию SAUDI Забронировать Undo The dispute over 21 of 28 gram panchayats in Kotia dates back to the 1960s. The Supreme Court on March 30, 2006, had disposed of a suit filed by Odisha in 1968, stating that Parliament alone can determine the territorial jurisdictions of states and ordered status quo till then. The panchayats have a population of around 5,000.
