4 Eastern Region Monday�September 17, 2018THE ECHO OF INDIA�KOLKATA

KENDRAPARA, SEPT 16 /--/ With the Election Com-mission carrying out revisionof voters list, the district ad-ministration in Odisha'sKendrapara has started dis-enfranchising suspectedBangladeshis whose namesfigured in the list of elector-ates, officials said today.

The coastal district has1,649 Bangladeshi settlers.Mahakalpada tehsil alonehouses 1,551 of them.

So far, 137 Bangladeshishave been detected in thevoters list in Mahakalpadatehsil. After thorough verifi-

Odisha district move to strike offBangladeshis from voters' list

cation of their nativity ante-cedents, these foreign nation-als have been removed fromvoters list, said Kendraparadistrict Collector, DasarathiSatpathy. The voters’ list re-vision process will continuetill September 27. The offi-cials engaged in the exercisehave been asked to ensurethat none of these foreignnationals find place in thefinal voters list, Satpathysaid. As many as 3,987 Bang-ladeshis have been staying inOdisha illegally. Of them,1,649 have been staying incoastal Kendrapara district

followed by 1,112 in Paradipand Jagatsinghpur, officialssaid.

Of the 3,987 infiltrators,1,551 foreign nationals from362 families living inMahakalpada Tehsil ofKendrapara district wereserved deportation notice in2005. However, the deporta-tion move has been kept onhold following interventionby the then union govern-ment. In an attempt to curbinflux of illegal immigrants,committees comprising rev-enue, police and forest offi-cials have been formed to

intensify vigil on infiltra-tion. These panels have beenworking in cohesion in infil-tration-affected Maakalpadaand Rajnagar tehsils, theysaid. The employers in pri-vate sectors particularly inmarine fishing sectors havebeen issued directions toengage people in work onlyafter thoroughly cross-check-ing their nationality and an-tecedents. They have beenwarned of facing stringentlegal action if found givingshelter or engaging illegalimmigrants, officials con-cluded.

BERHAMPUR, SEPT 16 /--/ Odisha Public e-Library,set up by Berhampur Mu-nicipal Corporation (BeMC)here in collaboration with anorganisation of non-residentOdias living in US, is all setto be modernised, an officialsaid.

At present, the e-libraryis equipped with a dozen com-puters with high-speedinternet connection, twoservers and a projector. Thee-library has a sitting capac-ity for 50 persons and is lo-cated at the first floor of themunicipal town hall. "Wehave signed a memorandumof understanding with theOdisha Society of the Ameri-cas (OSA) recently to mod-ernise the e-library addingmore facilities for holdingworkshops and seminars,"said BeMC CommissionerChakravarti Singh Rathore.The MoU is valid for twoyears. "The OSA has agreedto provide technical guid-ance for making the libraryICT (information and commu-nications technology) ena-bled and support for itsgrowth and development,"said B Nageswar Subudhi, aneye specialist, who is playinga coordinator between thecivic body and the OSA.

The OSA has agreed toprovide all necessary supportto conduct lecture series withsubject experts, he said. "It isnot merely a library wherepeople can only browse e-books. Our aim is to make itas a resource centre andknowledge hub to cater to thegrowing needs of the people,especially students," saidSubudhi. The civic bodysaid it would provide audio-video facilities. The BeMC isalso planning to automate thelibrary with software like e-Granthalaya. The corpora-tion would tie up with theNational Informatics Centreto avail its e-Granthalaya sothat users can browse othermagazines and e-books fromthe Internet, said BasudevPanigrahy, management infor-mation system officer of thecorporation.

In the first phase, OSAhad provided Rs 20 lakh tothe chief minister's relieffund for setting up of the dig-ital library. People are al-lowed to use the library forfree. After its modernisation,it will boost the library move-ment in the city and at thesame time help computer-savvy poor students, espe-cially job-seekers, addedSubudhi.

OdishaPublic

e-Libraryto be

modernised

KORAPUT, SEPT 16 /--/ Narayanpatnablock in Odisha's Koraput district which wasonce regarded as a Maoist hotbed has re-corded zero violence by Naxals since Janu-ary this year, a senior police officer said.

Putting up 'anti-government' posters,killing of civilians on charges of being po-lice informers, attack on government build-ings and establishments, roads and givingbandh call have now became a thing of thepast, said Koraput superintendent of police,Kanwar Vishal Singh. "It can be certainly saidthat Maoists are on the back foot inNarayanpatna. Influence of Naxals is on thewane. There has been sharp fall in their or-ganisational strength," said Singh. Intensivecombing operations by security forces andcommunity policing programmes to addressvarious problems of the villagers are pay-ing dividends and the Maoist leadership isdemoralised in the area, he said. "Though theMaoist leadership is disillusioned and de-moralised, we cannot afford to be complacentas in guerrilla warfare sometimes the Mao-ists do tactical retreat to execute some ma-jor offensive," the SP said.

Sharing boundary with Andhra Pradesh,Narayanpatna was often under the influenceof Maoists. The thick forest cover and it re-moteness had always helped the red rebels.

ITANAGAR, SEPT 16 /--/ With the recovery of one morebody, the death toll in flash flood and landslides in ArunachalPradesh rose to five while a girl was still missing, an officialsaid Sunday.

The body of 32-year-old Mary Beyong of Modirijo whowent missing since Friday, was retrieved by BanderdewaPolice and NDRF team from Dikrongn river at Nepali Gaonnear No 2 Pithaguri village in Assams Lakhimpur districton Saturday night, capital deputy commissioner PrinceDhawan said. However, a 10-year-old girl Pangpi Beyong wasstill missing though search and rescue teams were on the jobto trace her, the DC said. Flash flood and landslides triggeredby incessant rains in the past few days, ravaged several partsof the state capital on Friday morning washing away 26houses, while over 60 houses were fully or partially dam-aged at affected sites like Modirijo, Donyi Polo area, ChandraNagar, Lobi, GSS Police colony, Press colony, he said. Theapproach road to Modirijo has been completely washed awaywhile half of the culvert has been reported to be damagedin Donyi polo area. Itanagar MLA Techi Kaso and the DCdistributed relief materials like blankets, utensils and fooditems to the victims whose houses were totally washed awayor damaged. A medical team also participated in the reliefmission and provided first aid, conducted health check-upof all those injured at Modirijo and Donyi Polo Colony. Mobileambulance has also been activated for any medical emer-gency, the DC added.

Arunchal MP urgesCentre for dredging of Siang river

ITANAGAR, SEPT 16 /--/Lok Sabha MP fromArunachal Pradesh, NinongEring has suggested to theCentre for dredging of theSiang river to solve the recur-rent flood and erosion prob-lems in the downstream areasof Arunachal Pradesh andAssam.

The Siang river is calledthe Tsangpo in China and inAssam it is called theBrahmaputra. The CongressMP from Arunachal East con-stituency on Saturday in aletter to Prime MinisterNarendra Modi apprised himof the large-scale soil erosiontaking place along the banksof Siang river in East Siangdistrict which has posed a se-rious threat to the lives ofpeople in riverine areas.With Siang river in spate andflowing above danger level,the MP expressed deep con-cern over large-scalesiltation in the riverbed andsoil erosions in downstreamareas of Borguli and Serumvillages under Mebo sub-di-vision and Pertung, Sika-Bamin and Sika-Tode inPasighat area.

To bring a permanent so-lution to over flooding and

erosion of downstream areas,Ering pleaded the PM to ini-tiate preventive measuressuch as dredging of Siangriver from Rengging toOiramghat in Assam, con-struction of embankments

Flash flood toll rises to 5

along both banks of the rivertill Oiramghat, and initiatingdialogue with China on therelease of water from thedams in Yarlung Zangpo inTibet to solve flooding anderosion of downstream areas.

KOHIMA, SEPT 16 /--/The Centre and the Naga un-derground group leadershave been making steadyprogress to reach an earlysettlement to the Naga politi-cal issue, BJP North-East in-charge Ram Madhav saidSaturday.

Any settlement involvesnot only Nagaland but neigh-bouring states of Manipur,Assam and ArunachalPradesh as well, Madhav said."The ongoing negotiationsare at an advanced stage. Weare hopeful that a solutionwill be achieved soon," hesaid. Solution should be ac-ceptable and satisfactory toall of them, he said while in-teracting with mediapersonsat the Heliport here.

Asked if "advancedstage" could be another slo-gan for the BJP for theupcoming Parliamentaryelections, he said it is true thatthe discussions are at an ad-vanced stage but it also takestime to find a permanent so-lution that is acceptable toall. "It should not be that peo-ple would start agitating af-ter a year of coming to a so-

BHUBANESWAR, SEPT16 /--/ Odishas first "TribesIndia" outlet has come up inthe state capital hereshowcasing a wide range ofethnic and tribal productsfrom across the country.

The showroom was inau-gurated by Union tribal af-fairs minister Jual Oram onSaturday, offers productsranging from jewellery andhandicrafts to handloomsand home furnishing itemsmade by tribal artisans. Theoutlet was opened at the ini-tiative of Tribal Coopera-tive Marketing Develop-ment Federation of India

Odisha gets first 'Tribes India' outlet(TRIFED). Oram said a vari-ety of products includingpottery, jewellery,handicrafts and clothesmade by tribals from over 27states would be sold fromthe outlet.

Market linkage wouldbe provided to tribal arti-sans for sale of their prod-ucts through the new outlet,Oram said adding it wouldbecome one of the biggestcentres of its kind in easternIndia. The minister said thatno stone should be leftunturned in ensuring em-powerment of tribalsthrough trade and all steps

organises 'Aadi Mahotsavas'across the country wheretribal artisans get an oppor-tunity to sell their productsand thereby get directlybenefited.

The new "Tribes India"outlet in Bhubaneswar isthe 100th of its kind in thecountry, a TRIFED officialsaid. TRIFED has been oper-ating a retail chain networkof 42 own outlets, 33 con-signment outlets and 14franchised outlets in thecountry. Plans are afoot to setup such outlets in Puri,Cuttack and Rourkela,Oram said.

be taken to ensure that theyget opportunities for liveli-

hood creation and incomegeneration. He said TRIFED

Zero Maoist violence in Narayanpatnablock this year, claims Koraput SP

However, with intelligence based operationsthe police have arrested as many as 25 Maoistsand gunned down at least four Naxals in anexchange of fire which had taken place onMarch 18, have certainly pushed the Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee ofthe banned outfit, which operates in the area,to corner, police said. Intelligence sources saidpresently, around 25 armed Maoists are ac-tive in the district but their movement hasbeen restricted to certain pockets.

Police said the Maoists are graduallyloosing their tribal support base inNarayanapatna as villagers are withdrawingtheir support from the red rebels as they haverealised that they got nothing by supportingthe Naxals."The gap between the police andMaoists has decreased in recent times. Also,we act as a facilitator to ensure that the ba-sic infrastructure like drinking water, elec-tricity, healthcare and road network arestrengthened in Naxal-hit villages," the SPsaid. The residents of Narayanpatna, whereMaoists ruled the roost, are also upbeat overdecline in naxal activities. "It has been a con-ducive environment in the area for past eightmonths for extensive combing operations bysecurity forces. We hope that the peaceful situ-ation will continue for long," said a residentof the area.

KAKINADA, SEPT 16 /--/Two women Maoists fromOdisha, one of whom wasinvolved in blasting a policevehicle in 2008, killing 21personnel, surrendered to thepolice today, a top police of-ficial said. Madi Shanti (25)and Chode Lakhe (30) of theKalimela Area Committeegave themselves up as theyfeared a threat to their liveswith police closing in onthem, East Godavari districtsuperintendent of policeVishal Gunni toldnewspersons here. The SPsaid Shanti had taken part inseven major attacks, thedeadliest of which was blast-ing a mine proof vehicle atTellarai village in 2008, inwhich 21 SOGs personnelwere killed. She also killedtwo people suspecting themto be police informers Shehas left the movement andwas living in her village since2016.

2 womenMaoists

surrender

Naga political talks atadvanced Stage, saysBJP’s N-E in-charge

KOLKATA, SEPT 16 /--/ The KalighatPark gate (Gate No. 2) of Kalighat Metrostation has been reopened today for theconvenience of the commuters.

This gate is located on the DN line sideof Metro route on the S P Mukherjee

KOLKATA, SEPT 16 /--/“Swachch Samwad” was or-ganised today by Metro Rail-way, Kolkata as a part of the“Swachhta Hi Seva-Swachhta Pakhwada-2018”being observed from Septem-ber 15 to October 2. As partof this programme, a paint-ing and poster competitionwas organised at Park Streetstation.

Sanjeeta Vijayvargiya,president Metro RailwayWomen’s Welfare Organisa-

Metro Railway observes “Swachch Samwad”

tion (MRWWO) gave awaythe prizes to the winners ofthe competition in presenceof other members of the or-ganization, officers, staff andcommuters of Metro Rail-way. Apart from this, a semi-nar on “Sanitation and Up-keep of Metro Stations” wasalso organized at the samevenue. Inaugurating thisseminar, Satyaki Nath, prin-cipal chief operations man-ager, Metro Railway ex-pressed his hope that com-

muters as well as staff ofMetro Railway would workin tandem to keep Metropremises as well as trainsclean.

Representatives of LionsClub International, NGOs,commuters, Metro Safaiwalasand Station Masters put for-ward their thoughts on howto keep and further improveMetro’s cleanliness.

A cultural programmewas also presented on thetheme of Swachchta. Metro

commuters in large numberstook part in today’s pro-gramme and expressed theirsatisfaction over Metro’scleanliness.

They also appealed totheir co-passengers to helpMetro authorities to keepMetro stations and trainsclean. Anti-littering noticesto make people aware of theimportance of Swachchtawere also on display at allstations of Metro Railway,Kolkata. (PTI)

SHILLONG, SEPT 16 /--/ Meghalaya home minister JamesP K Sangma has said that the state government is keen at nam-ing a road after founder of the Unitarian Church, Hajom KissorSing Nongbri.

The minister, who attended the inauguration of the an-niversary of the Unitarian Church in the Khasi-Jaintia Hillsof Meghalaya and Karbi-Anglong of Assam in an interfaithmeeting here on Saturday, also expressed optimism that thegovernment will be able to announce September 18 as a lo-cal holiday. The church, founded by young Kissor way backin 1887, will be celebrating the 131st Anniversary on Sep-tember 18 across the Khasi-Jaintia and Karbi Anglong re-gion of Meghalaya and Assam respectively.

Sangma said: "It is a great idea (to name roads after greatpersonalities). We are very seriously contemplating to nameroads in our state. We have so many names we are proud aboutand Babu Hajom Kissor figure in that list." The Home min-ister made the statement after noted historian and St EdmundsPrincipal Dr Sylvanus Lamare said that the government ofthe day ought to give Kissor its due respect for his contri-bution in the community, the language and the Church thatis inclusive. "The government is privilege to take this mat-ter and give him (Kissor) the recognition, although he doesntneed it, but as a small gesture from the government," theminister said while addressing the interfaith gathering.

Meghalaya govt keen to nameroad after Kissor: Minister

Gate No. 2 of Kalighat Metro station reopened

Road. Metro commuters of KalighatPark, Kalighat Tram Depot, KalighatChurch, Kalighat Temple areas as wellas students, teachers and parents ofJogmaya Academy School will bebenefitted for the reopening of this gate.

JAMSHEDPUR, SEPT 15 /--/ An octogenarian woman wasstabbed to death by unknown miscreant at her flat in NewGreen City apartment in Baliguma on National Highway 33under M G M Police station here on Saturday evening, po-lice said. The victim, A Shakuntala Devi, was alone at homewhen the incident occurred, Deputy Superintendent ofPolice, Vijay Kumar Mahato said. She sustained head injuriesand there were also stab wounds at two places on her body,he said. The victim was living with her daughter, who hadbeen to a clinic for an eye operation. When she returned homefrom the clinic, she found her mother in a pool of blood andraised an alarm, the police officer said adding that the oldlady was taken to a nearby hospital but she was declaredbrought dead. "We are verifying the CCTV camera footagesto identify the culprit," he said. The body has been sent forpost-mortem in M G M Hospital.

Elderly woman stabbedto death in Jamshedpur

IMPHAL, SEPT 16 /--/ Awoman militant was ar-rested by security forcesin Manipur's ImphalEast district, police saidSunday.

A joint team of policeand Assam Rifles ar-rested the woman mili-tant belonging to theproscribed outfit United

RANCHI, SEPT 16 /--/ Jharkhand chiefminister Raghubar Das said Saturday thatthe (grand alliance) has no future as it hasneither leadership nor intention.

Das said neither the people nor the par-ties of the grand alliance are accepting theleadership of the Congress party, said aparty press release. According to him, theBJP has a "world-level" and charismaticleadership, whose acceptance is growingamong the people. "The BJP, along with its

Woman militantheld in Manipur

National LiberationFront (UNLF) at LamlaiMakha Leikai area ofthe district on Friday, arelease issued by thePRO of Manipur Policesaid. A case has been reg-istered at Lamlai policestation and further in-vestigations are on, saidthe release.

lution, which will not helpanybody. We are not keepingany election in mind but wewant a solution sooner thanlater. "We have been told byour leadership that a sincereeffort is being made to arriveat a settlement as soon as pos-sible," he said. Highlightingthe purpose of his visit to thestate, Madhav said he is hereto take stock of the overallsituation of the governmentand party activities in thestate. He said that he wouldalso call on the chief minis-ter Neiphiu Rio and discussthe way forward for theupcoming Parliamentaryelections. The BJP with 12MLAs is an ally of the Na-tionalist Democratic Progres-sive Party with six ministers.On the unprecedented rise inprices of petroleum prod-ucts, he said, "Presently infla-tion is at the lowest and wehave brought down theprices of all commoditiesincluding all essential com-modities." Madhav said oilprices are guided by interna-tional developments but ifcompared with the earlierUPA regime, it is much less.

Jharkhand CM takes a dig at Mahagathbandhanallies, is in governments in 70 per cent of thecountry and it was due to the leadershipacumen of founder president Atal BihariVajpayee," Das said.

The Jharkhand chief minister calledupon the party workers to fulfil Prime Min-ister Narendra Modi and BJP presidentAmit Shahs call of Ajay Bharat Atal Bhajpaand mera booth sabse majbood (my booth isthe strongest) which is not just a slogan buta mantra for winning Lok Sabha seats.