Umerkote assembly bypoll concludes peacefully.

Nabarangpur:

Defying the poll boycott call given by Maoists, around 70.99  per cent voters exercised their franchise in the Umerkote assembly segment in Nabarangpur district, where the by-poll was held on Wednesday.

“The election was by and large peaceful. No untoward incident was reported anywhere in the constituency while the voters were seen to make long-queues to cast their vote,” said a senior government officer. The counting of vote will take place on December 4.

 “The polling was very peaceful and there was no untoward incident reported during polling,” said deputy inspector general of police (Sunabeda) Soumendra Priyadarshi.

The by-election was necessary in the constituency, as sitting BJD MLA Jagabandhu Majhi was gunned down by unidentified miscreants on September 24 at Gona village under Raighar police station.

As many as 165,133  voters of the constituency, consisting of 24 GPs in Raighar block, eight GPs in Umerkote block and Umerkote NAC were to elect the new MLA of the constituency.

Three candidates were in the fray for this constituency- Dharmu Gond (BJP), Jatindranath Gond (Congress) and Subash Gond (BJD).

Security was tightened with deployment of Central security forces in Maoist-hit assembly constituency in the wake of the call given by the ultras to boycott the election.

At least three companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), six units of Special Operation Group (SOG), 11 platoons of Orissa State Armed Police (OSAP) were deployed for poll duty besides hundreds of police officers, constables and home guards.

The Orissa-Chhattisgarh border was sealed to prevent the entry of miscreants from the neighbouring state.

Official sources said as many as 750 polling personnel were deployed for poll duty. Out of the total 162 booths in the constituency, 67 booths were identified as hyper-sensitive while remaining 70 booths are considered to be sensitive.

Though the poll result would not impact the political parties, they have taken the by-poll as a challenge.Apart from several ministers of the ruling BJD, senior Congress and BJP leaders including BJP Chief Minister Raman Singh campaigned for their respective candidates.

Now it’s the blame game over Maoist threat

The Pioneer, Bhubaneswar. WEDNESDAY, 23 NOVEMBER

Even as the campaigning for the November 30 bypoll for the Umarkote Assembly constituency is approaching its climax with the contending parties going all-out to woo the electorate, pumping in money and manpower to bolster their prospects and villagers of this Maoist-affected zone responding more eagerly to the campaigns, not caring a fig for the ‘Maoist threat’, the ‘Maoist threat’ propaganda has ushered in a blame game overriding the campaigns.

On November 14, the Maoists pasted posters and banners in the villages under Raighar block, warning the voters to refrain from voting for the BJD candidate. The posters written in Odia language accused ex-MLA Jagabandhu Majhi of having indulged in anti-people activities. They also warned BJD leaders against campaigning in the Raighar area, threatening them of dire consequences.

Faced with threat from the ultras, BJD candidate for the ensuing bypoll Subhas Gond moved the Election Commission on November 16, seeking security. The Commission responded by asking the police to provide adequate security to all three candidates.

As the situation is quite normal, BJD raised suspicion over the genuineness of the posters, stating that the threat may have been the handy work of some political party intended to terrorise the people against the ruling party ahead of the election. BJD’s Nabarangpur district president Jayadev Parida echoed similarly and said some people wanted to disrupt the election campaign of his party in the area.

Senior BJD leader and MP Pyarimahan Mahapatra alleged that the BJP and the Congress are playing cheap politics by terrorising the voters in the name of Maoists in different areas of Raighar and Umarkote blocks. He further said Majhi was not killed by Maoist; he was the victim of conspiracy hatched by some of his opponents.

On the other hand, the BJP made counter allegations that the ‘Maoist threat’ is nothing but a ploy by the ruling party to restrict movement of the Opposition in the area so that they can easily influence the voters under police protection.

During the 2009 elections, Nabarangpur district including Umarkote was a Maoist-free zone. But Maoists activities in Raighar block bordering Chhattisgarh registered increase after the general elections.

The Umarkote Assembly segment has 1, 65, 133 voters. It consists of Raighar block (1, 04 496) and Umarkote block (30, 266), Umerkote NAC (21, 371). These include as many as 24, 412 Bengali voters and 60, 000 Gond voters. Sources said nine out of 24 panchayats of Raighar block bordering Chhattisgarh are considered a hotbed of the rebels. Areas like Haldia, Gona, Timanpur, Naktichanla, Kudai and Mundibeda are some of the worst Maoist-hit areas in the State. The Mainpur Divisonal Committee of the extremists is operating in these places.

Though BJD’s posters and banners are conspicuous by their absence in the Raighar block, stage is set for

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s proposed visit on November 25. The Chief Minister will address two public meetings, one at Umarkote and the other at Raighar on the same day.

The BJP is trying to ensure that the Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh (Raman Singh) and Jharkhand (Arjun Munda) make trips to the battle zone within a week while the Congress party is depending on few Central leaders to lead them in the fight.

All political parties have fielded candidates from the Gond tribe. While the Congress and the BJD candidates are set from Raighar, the BJP has selected its candidate from Umerkote NAC. The Gond vote is waiting for a divide.

Political observers opine that the main battle will be between the BJP and the BJD. If Subash gains sympathy votes, he will win the elections by a huge margin. If people will vote for a better candidate, Dharmu Gond will emerge as the winner. The Congress may finish third yet again. But Raighar being the biggest area with 24

GPs and the highest number of voters, all parties have now preferred to concentrate in Raighar, trying to woo the voters door to door despite the sway of Maoists in the area.

Umerkote bypoll campaigning In full swing.

BJP and congress terrorizing voters in the name of the Maoist: Pyarimahan Mahapatro

By: Monohar Mohanty & Basant Rath 

Nabarangpur:

Blame game and local issues dominate the campaigning of both BJD,BJP and congress for the bypoll in Umerkote constituency. 

Senior BJD leader and MP Pyarmahan Mahapatro alleged the BJP and Congress parties are playing a cheap politic by terrorizing the voters in the name of the Maoist. Today speaking in a BJD party workers meet held here at Dharmasal he said his party would win the Umerkote assembly by-election with a suitable  margin, the opposition parties are also well known about his party’s sure victory  as a result of which they are trying to terrorize  the voters and his party workers  by affixing posters in the name of Maoist in different areas of Raighar and Umerkote block. He further said the slain MLA Jagabandhu Majhi was not killed by the Maoist, he was the victim of conspiracy hatched by some of his opponents. His party has done lot of works for the betterment of tribals, number of programs has been lunched in the KBK district by his government specially for the downtrodden tribals, he added. Mahapatro said he has visited more than twenty villages of Raighar and Umerkote Block and the villagers  of these village are more eagerly responding to BJD without caring the Maoist threat spread by the opposition parties. He assured that his party would do more developmental works  for Umerkote constituency after retaining the seat once again. 

Ruling party Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patro  reached Umerkote on Wednesday and joined with  IT Minister Ramesh Majhi, Jeypore MLA Rabi Naryan Nanda , Nabarangpur MLA Manohar Randhari and Muna Khan  who were camping in Umerkote for campaigning since 12^th  November.  On Thursday senior BJD leader MP Pyarimohan Mohapatro, along with Jayadeb MLS Arabindo Dhali, reached Umerkote and visited several villages of Umerkote and Raighar block for campaigning, later  Ministers Dabi Prasad Mishra, Pratap Jena, Pradeep Moharathi, Moheswar Mohanty, Sarada Nayak, along with  BYJD state president, Sanjayadas Berhma, MP, Sashi bhusana Behera, MLAs, Gopalpur MLA, Pradip Panigrahi, Kendujhar MLA, Subarna Nayak, Korei MLA, Pretiranjan Ghodei, Angul MLA, Ranajikant Singh, Kamakhyanagar MLA, Prafulla Mallik, Cuttack MLA, Pravatranjan Biswal, campaigning  in hundreds of villages of Raighar and Umerkote blocks.

On the other hand from BJP top leaders like State President Jual Uram, General Secretary, Golak Mohapatro, former minister Surama Padhy, Former MP, Parshuram Majhi,  along with neighboring Chhattisghar state ministers and  MPs were campaigning for their candidate Dharmu Gand. Among the team Kankar MP Sahai Patai, Keskal MLA, Sebakram Netam, Ministers Lata Ushani, Kedar Kashyap,  conducting party meeting at the several villages.

 The congress leaders like PCC President Niranjan Patnaik, AICC youth Secretary Mirga Ersa Beg have visited Umerkote on 15^th November for campaigning.  The local MP Pradeep Majhi, Nabarangpur congees president Narayan Patro,Muna Tripathy, Tapan Debnath, Rayagada Ex-MLA Ram Chandra Ulka, Jeypore Ex-MLA Jagaranath Patnaik, Nimai Sarkar, PCC secretary Romu Patro are seen  campaigning for congress candidate Jitendranath Gond. 

UMERKOTE ASSEMBLY POLL.

By: BASANT RATH, Editor-in-Chief.

Published in The Pioneer/The statesman/orissabarta/orissadiary. Bhubaneswar, Dated: 15 Nov. 2011

Poised for BJD-BJP-Cong triangular contest

The by-election will be a test for Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's popularity in the tribal heartland with the State Government launching a series of welfare programmes for the STs. 
The by-elections for the Umerkote Assembly seat would be a three-cornered contest among the major political parties, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the BJP and the Congress. After the scrutiny of nomination papers on Monday, out of the six candidates only three are left in the fray for the by-poll on November 30. Among the six candidates, two nominations of Dhanuram Gond (Independent) and Buti Bhatra belonging of of Kaling National Front were rejected, while Sunadhar Paklu, candidate of the Republican Party of India withdraw his papers.

The by-election will be a test for Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s popularity in the tribal heartland with the State Government launching a series of welfare programmes for the STs. The BJD has deployed Ministers Surjya Narayan Patro, Ramesh Majhi and Bikram Keshari Arukh, Koraput MP Jayaram Pangi, MLAs Rabi Narayan Nanda and Arabinda Dhali for campaigning.

Besides, Nabarangpur Municipal Chairman Prahalad Tripathy, Umerkote NAC Chairman Jhadeswar Mohanty and district BJD president Jayadev Parida are among the leading campaigners for party nominee Subash Gond’s victory. BJD sources claimed that Chief Minister Patnaik would also come for campaigning so that different factions in the party’s district unit would be united.

The Congress is also not far behind. Senior leader Narasingha Mishra, Nabarangpur MP Pradeep Majhi and MLAs Bhujabal Majhi and Ramachandra Kadam are camping in the area. Besides, former MLAs Sadan Naik and Tara Prasad Bahinipati are also campaigning for the party’s candidate Jitendra Gond.

While the BJD has fielded a close associate of the slain MLA Jagabandhu Majhi hoping to win the election on a sympathy wave as Majhi was a bachelor without any political heir, the Congress is expecting to win the seat by making the deteriorating law and order situation in the Assembly segment its prime election agenda.

On the other hand, BJP candidate Dharmu Gond, who was Umerkote’s MLA in 2004 and had occupied second position in the last election, is quite optimistic of victory this time.  Senior BJP leaders, including State president Jual Oram, vice-president Ashok Sahu and former MP Parshuram Majhi are aggressively campaigning for the party candidate.

The Umerkote Assembly segment, which has around 1,64,000 voters, consists of Raighar and Umerkote blocks and the Umerkote NAC. Nine out of 24 panchayats of Raighar block bordering Chhattisgarh are considered the Maoist hotbed. Areas like Haldia, Gona, Timanpur, Naktichanla, Kudai and Mundibeda are some of the worst Maoist-hit areas in the State. The Mainpur Divisional Committee of the extremists is operating in these places.

Political observers believe that the bypoll will again return the BJD nominee to the Assembly though with a reduced margin. The interesting thing in the bypoll is to watch which of the Opposition political parties, the Congress and the BJP, finishes second.

It is vibrant that the main battle will be between the BJP and the BJD. If Subash Gond gains sympathy votes, he will win the elections by a huge margin. If people vote for a better candidate, Dharmu Gond will emerge as the winner. The Congress may finish third yet again, observers feel.

Annual tribal fest MONDEI kicks off in Nabarangpur.

Nabarangpur

The inaugural function of Mondei organized with much fanfare.A congregation of local dance troupes kicked off the five day mega cultural festival of the district ‘Mondei – 2011’ in Nabarangpur on Tuesday with the traditional march from Sadashiva Tripathy, park to Mondei ground.

Hon’ble Minister tourism Prafulla Samal, along with Hon’ble Minister of Information Technology Ramesh Chandra Majhi, local MLAs Manohar Randhari, Bhujabala Majhi, Chairperson of Nabarangpur Municipality Prahallad Tripathy, District Collector Sibabrata Dash, at the temple before the colourful carnival procession took on Mahatma Gandhi Marg. Besides the traditional folk dance troupes, hundreds of townsmen along with the block level took part in the procession.

The procession saw tribal villagers with folk culture, a number of tribal musical parties and various tribal fancy shows performed along the way. The Mondei carnival reached the Mondei Rangamanch in the evening. The inauguration function was held at night. The festival was highly successful in showcasing unique cultural and traditional heritage of the district and its people; in identifying hidden talents in various fields; contributing to revamping the old traditions and bringing recognition to those; and above all in recasting socio-cultural integrity and amalgamation. At the inaugural function held at the Mondei ground,

Chief guest Mr.Samal, said that With a special emphasis on the district the tribal dances from the district will given chance to perform their dances at Rabindra Mandap. All steps will be taken to develop tourist places of the district. He further intimated to take advantage of the artist pension provision and apply more persons from the district.
Speaking to the occasion IT, Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi, expressing his joyous feeling over the entire festival stated that Mondei has been able to showcase the culture and heritage of the district and has been able to bring out many hidden talents to light of the day. He maintained that through the occasion there has been exchange of good feelings among the States and the occasion has also provided platform for many artists to showcase their talents. Emotionally, he also stated that in the land of lord Jagannath and Late Biju Patnaik Nabarangpur district has been able to achieve milestones and is in the path of prosperity.
Among others Local MP,Pradeep Majhi, MLA Nabarangpur, Monahar Randhari, MLA Dabugam, Bhujabala Majhi, Zillaparisad President, Bhagirathi Nayak, Vice-chairperson, Mrs.Manjula Majhi, District Collector, Sibabrata Dash,Film development corporation chairman, Muna Khan, Chairman of Municipality, Prahalad Tripathy, Chairman of NAC, Jhadeswar Mohanty, spoke on the occasion.

Besides the traditional folk dance troupes hundreds of block and townsmen took part in the procession. The Procession saw tribal villagers folk dances a number of tribal musical parties and various tribal fancy shows performed along the way. The mondei carnival reached at the Mondei Rangamancha in the evening.

“Explore Nabarangpur” published by NGPURNEWS was inaugurated by the chief guest and guests at the function. Troupes from Uttarakhand, West Bihar, Himanchal Pradesh, Sambalpur, Bhanjanagar, Kokshora, Chandahandi, Nabarangpur Municipality, performed folk dances.

Also Published in The Pioneer/The statesman/orissabarta/orissadiary.

New District judge court inaugurated In Nabarangpur.

Nabarangpur.

Chief justice of high court, Orissa V.Gopala Gowda, inaugurated district judge court in Nabarangpur on Saturday, which was a longstanding demand of the people of district since it was carved out from greater Koraput district in early nineties.

At the inaugural function held under the chairmanship of Bar association president Uma Sankar Tripathy, chief justice advocated the legal profession and said lawyers are pillar of the society who are fighting for the up-liftment of the of the underprivileged community since pre-independence. “The role of lawyers has been considered as vital in a democratic step up like India”,

Underline the profession as ‘Noble’ he appealed to the lawyers to work for the tribal poor people so that the opportunities for security justice are not denied to the needy persons by reason of economic or disabilities.

He further said that most of the population of the country belongs to farmer community, every one of us should think for their development. Country will not achieve its goal unless the larger section of the society gets equal justice in term of health, education and food and shelter”, he added.

Appreciating the members for their nice reception, he appealed the Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi, to take necessary steps for establishment of new district court building with good furniture and library.

Justice B.N Mohapatro, said that establishment of district court is a diwali gift from the goddess maa Bhandara Gharani, and Nabarangpur bar association is considered as best bar of state.

IT Minister who is the guest of honour said that new district judge court which will benefit the poor tribals litigants.

Among others new district judge B.P Routroy, bar association secretary Raghunath Padhy, Collector, Sibabrata Dash, SP, Niti Sekhar, MP, Pradeep Majhi, Nabarangpur MLA, Monahar Randhari, Dabugam MLA, Bhujabala Majhi, ZP President, Bhagirathi Nayak present at the meeting.

MLA Majhi’s murder mystery deepens

The Pioneer, Bhubaneswar, dated: 17.10.2011

The mystery over the sensational murder of Umerkote MLA Jagabandhu Majhi has further deepened after the statement of Maoist ideologue Dandapani Mohanty said that the Maoists have no role in the killing of the MLA and his PSO.

The relatives of the late MLA alleged that the Crime Branch (CB) is trying to close the file by giving a shape of Maoist role, even after lapse of number of days, the CB has failed to identify the accused involved in the murder, they alleged.

Majhi was attacked twice before the incident and in every case the police had failed to identify the culprits. As the pressure is mounting on the CB, now the investigating agency is trying to give a Maoist involvement to cover up the incident, alleged Jyanti the sister of Jagabandhu. A close associate of the slain MLA, Subash Gond said the newspaper report is a self-directed drama by Majhi’s political rivals, who are trying to spread fictitious things against the erstwhile popular leader keeping in view the forthcoming by-election.

He further alleged that a local reporter of a vernacular newspaper is an active member of the Opposition party and three criminal cases of extortion and cheating are pending against him in the local court. It is beyond imagination that the reporter who is having such a bad reputation was called by the Maoist to take their interview, he said.

He further said they would file an FIR against the reporter, as the news report tarnished the image of their popular leader who always fought for the rights of the tribals.

The mother of the slain MLA Gouri Bai said “her son was the victim of political rivalry.Getting information from some reliable source my son was given a written report to the Inspector-in- Charge of Raighar police station specifying the names of some of political persons who were conspiring to kill him.However, to the utter dismay, the police have now refuted any such report made to them, she rued. She further said they have no faith on the investigation by the CB and Nabarangpur police.

Tribal Festival Mondei-2011 Inaugurated

Nabarangpur:

The Tribal Festival Mondei 2011 is all set to kick off. The festival was inaugurated yesterday in a grand fashion at the origin place of Maa Bhandara Gharani the presiding deity of the district, at Raj-Jagannathpur, under Nandahandi block.

The Chief guest, IT Minister Mr.Ramesh Chandra Majhi inaugurated the festival, and described Mondei as a platform for tribals to showcase their hidden talents. Festivals like Mondei not only encourages tribal artists, but also contributes to increased tourist inflow into the district in particular. We should take advantage of information technology to take Mondei to all corners of the country, so that people elsewhere get attracted to this district.

Collector Sibabrata Dash presided over the meeting said that the district is the abode place of nature where one can see dense green forest coverage, Varity of flora and fauna and abundant natural resources. It has a rich traditional values and divergent culture symbolizing the glorious past and heroic days. All steps should be taken to develop contact with travel and tour operators at the district and state level so that tourists develop interest to witness the rich culture variety of the district.

Mr.dash appreciated the block officials and line departments, for developed the area in a short time. He assured to provide all facilities to the area as soon as possible.

The block level festival would continue till 28 October, events like sports,tribal dances, dramas and songs are a vital part of it. Various teams and dance troups will be selected from the block level to perform at the district level celebrations, which will commence from 1 November and continue till 5 November.

Nabarangpur MLA, Manohar Randhari, appreciated the efforts of collector, for selecting to start Mondei from the place of Rajjagannathpur and in short time developed the area.

Minister Mr.Majhi unveiled the festival posters, the colourful posters showing the rich tribal heritage of yesterday, today and tomorrow. The posters will be displayed at various places in and outside the district to highlight the festival. Dance troupes from the Nandahandi panchayat level performed folk dances. To attract the tribals nacha performed for whole night.

Among others, SP, Niti Sekhar, Former MP, Parshuram Majhi, Block Chairman, Hema Bhatra, Vice-Chairman, Dayanidhi Bissoi present at the meeting. ABDO, Nandahandi block, proposed vote of thanks.

Bandh opposing beauty contests in Mondei festival of Nabarangpur.

Nabarangpur:
Some of the citizens of town organized a protest rally in the late night by blocking NH 201 on Sunday. Later on Monday witnessed a band in pretest against the proposed beauty contest during Mondei-2011. Some of the business establishments remained closed while vechicular movement was slender during the bandh. In the protest leaders of different political parties including Nabarangpur MP Pradip Majhi sat on dharna opposing the beauty contest. Majhi's dharna was supported by former MP Prasuram Majhi, Zilla Parisad President Bhagirathi Nayak and many others
.
The District Cultural Festival has landed in a controversy over a decision by the administration to conduct beauty contests separately for young girls and married women. Different organisations demanded halt to the competition. It was also echoed during a recent Zilla Parisad meeting in which Vice-president Manjula Majhi opposed the competition saying it was not the culture of tribal women. Cutting across party lines leaders of Congress, BJP and BJDÂ also sat on a dharna to in protest against the proposed beauty contest. Meanwhile, in a press conference held at Raj Jagannathpur, under Nandahandi block IT minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi, said the contest is cancelled due to protests. Municipal Chairman, Prahalad Tripathy, demanded action agaist the agitators those who demolished the property of poor persons in the daily market. The district administration proposed to organize beauty contest for the first time during the Mondei festival but it was not final said Collector Mr.Sibabrata Dash. Most unfortunately the people some of them are also the members of the district council of culture without knowing the fact blocked the NH and called a band without discussing with the district administration added Mr.Dash. Municipal Chairman, Prahalad Tripathy, demanded stringent action against the agitators those who demolished the property of the poor persons in the daily market.

India’s First standardize district web site launched.

Nabarangpur:
India’s first standardize of Nabarangpur district portal launched at Ashok Meheta conference hall here on Friday. IT, Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi, inaugurated the portal.

Speaking to the occasion Mr.Majhi expressing his pleasure said that the portal will help the common citizens and will help one to get information about the district. Even one can easily obtain forms, data’s of the district. Information technology aims to develop human resources, public communication, trade and commerce and reaching technology people’s doors. He pledged the new generation to build a digital Orissa.
Govt will help IT reach the common citizen so as to narrow down the digital divide. Widespread applications of IT would establish a system where the citizens will receive good governance ensuring speed of decisions from a transparent Government through an effective e-Governance System.

Collector, Mr. Sibabrata Dash, said that we are proud to launch the ambitious "standardization of district portal" project, in this remote Nabarangpur district first. One can easily access and know about the details of different ongoing programs, and about the district administration.
During the inaugural session managing director of Luminus Inforways said displaying the web site that standardized district portal framework, which contains a solution towards e-Governent transactions for districts across the country. The standardization of district portal initiative is based on the content architecture of the National Portal of India (NIC) with implemented agency Orissa computer application centre,(OCAC) the designed technical directorate of information technology department, Govt of Orissa. The contents and formats of the portal include; profile, geography, administrative setup, directory, peoples’ representatives and many more. Citizen Services such as acts & rules, e-forms, policies, enquiries, guidelines to get caste and domicile certificate, registration of documents, ration card, land records, Right to Information.
Mrs. Jayashree Mohanty, Dirictor of Luminus Inforways. said that in the other districts, data collection and moderation process is under progress "It is more user-friendly. Standardization of district portal would be a one stop source, which delivers information and services through cyberspace," she added.
Browsers need not type separate web address to open websites of different districts, rather a single address (www.ordistricts.nic.in) can open a page where names and links of all the districts are available.

Jagabandhu associates refute Maoist link in murder

Expressing resentment over a report published in a newspaper claiming that the Maoist have claimed to have killed Umerkote MLA Jagabandhu Majhi and his PSO Pinku Patro on September 24 at Gona under the Raighar police station in Nabarangpur district, the associates of Majhi on Thursday alleged that the report is completely motivated and a fallacious one to gain cheap political mileage by the opposition parties.
A close associate of Majhi, Subesh Gond, said the slain MLA was a tribal leader who fought for the rights of the tribals in his area. The Maoists were very much impressed with the working style of Majhi. There were no prior threats to Majhi by the Maoists, which the Red rebels generally do before executing the warning.
“The fake news story came out at a sensitive time when attempts are on to trace the real culprits by the Crime Branch. Recently, the Crime Branch has released a sketch of the suspected killer of the MLA with a request to the public to share information about the culprit and his whereabouts,” Gond said.
“What is stated in the newspaper report is a self-directed drama by Majhi’s political rivals, who are trying to spread fictitious things against the erstwhile popular leader keeping in view the forthcoming by-election,” Gond further alleged.
Though , the CB investigation was increasingly pointing to the role of groups or rivals Majhi may have made during his rise as a prominent political leader in the area. “It could be a large group of people which was hired for the killing,”
The associates of Jagabandhu strongly believed that the group may well have been hired from neighbouring Chhattisgarh and was constantly in touch with its counterpart seeking intelligence on movement of any such outfit. “Since Majhi was under target of his enemies as would the previous attacks vouch, they may well have given contract to a professional group to give shape to their mission,”

Industrial Exhibition in Nabarangpur in Nov

A preparatory meeting for a national level Buyer-Seller Meet-cum-Industrial Exhibition- 2011 was held here.

For the first time the district administration in association with the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Institute (MSME-DI), Cuttack, under Union Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises is organising the exhibition November 4 and 5 at the Mondei Ground here.

Presiding over the meeting, District Collector Sibabrata Dash said the main objective of the programme is to provide opportunity to Micro Small and Medium Enterprises to showcase their capabilities to the Public Sector Undertakings and other large scale enterprises which outsource many products and services from the MSME sector.

The exhibition would house stalls of Public Sector Undertakings (PSU) and MSMEs, and would enable the PSUs to identify vendors, thus providing an opportunity to develop buyer- seller relationship. The technical sessions at the event will throw light on the vendor registration procedures, quality standards and procurement procedures of PSUs.

We requested Nalco, HAL, Bilt, JK Paper, IMFA,Vedant, Nayagarh Suger Complex, and other promotional agencies to participate in the programme, said Dash.

General Manager, DIC, Nabarangpur Jadeb Subudhi said that the exhibitors shall house around 50 stalls, with exhibits from Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, PSUs and promotional agencies. “There will be technical sessions which cover requirements, purchase policies and procedures of PSUs, schemes of financial institutions for MSEs, registration and rating of vendors, and quality standards and specifications,” he added. Among others, Deputy Director, MSME, Rayagada and DIPRO Bhujang Bhusan Rao were present.

New twist to Umerkote MLA Jagabandhu murder

The Plan to Kill Majhi was hatched at the residence of Amrit Adhikari in Bharsundi DNK village under Gona GP.
Nabarangpur:
The investigators are still groping in the dark over the sensational murder of Umerkote MLA Jagabandhu Majhi even as no Maoist outfit has owned responsibility of the killing even after five days.

While the police did not rule out the involvement of Maoists in the MLA’s killing, locals and eyewitnesses have different view on the case.

A close aid of the MLA Subash Gond has revealed that a youth in the mid twenties came close to stage from behind, where MLA was sitting with Sukdev Gand, Topiram Nayak, Upendra Gand, Revenue Inspector of Gona, Narayan Barik, supervisor M Besra, and BJD worker Chittranjan Gand, in the first and second line and in the third line Subash Gond, along with the others chaired at the stage, behind the third line PSO PK Patro stood. There were two assailants altogether in their mid twenties came close to the stage from behind and one of them was wearing a black pant and brown check T- shirt shot from the back side of the PSO from point blank range.

The third one who was in the mid -thirties was waiting on a motor cycle in the approach road close to the stage. After killing the PSO, the attackers shouted slogans in MLA’s name and they shot him from the rear. Subash Gond, resisted one of the gunman but another who is standing there fired at him but the bullet did not him while another local Ramdas Gond sustained critical bullet injuries. After with the revolver of PSO the miscreants shot another round at the PSO and MLA. Then they fired some blanks and shouting slogans fled towards Chhattisgarh border.

The assailants tried to give a Maoist color to the incident considering the proximity of the area to Chattisgarh border” Gond who was also driving car when Jagabandhu Majhi was attacked in 2004 at the marriage function at Raighar, further revealed that an FIR had been lodged with the Raighar Police station on August 2, 2011 regarding a conspiracy to wipe out Majhi as he was a hindrance to some land encroachers and politicians in the area.

“We had called the Inspector –in-Charge of Raighar police station to the Raighar block office and handed over the FIR in which the name of Amrit Adhikary and former MLA Dharmu Gond were mentioned as the main conspirators,” he said.

According to him the plan was hatched at the residence of Amrit Adhikary in Bharsundi DNK village under Gona gram panchayat and around 15 people gathered there to discuss the plan to kill MLA by hiring a contract killer. In that meeting Amrit Adhikary also disclosed that former MLA Dharmu Gond would give Rs 5 lakh for the contract killer and the rest Rs.10 lakh would be collected from others.

When asked how they came to know about this conspiracy, he said that “one villager who attended that meeting informed the MLA about the killing plan and pleaded for not disclosing his name as his life was in danger.” However, the district police on Thursday denied any such information received by the Raighar police station.

Ex-MLA Gond has also denied any such involvement and said that he has no knowledge about such allegations.
His fight against land grabbers and his popularity among tribals have made many envious and they wanted to eliminate him forever, claimed Subash Gond.
The saint BJD MLA of Umerkote Jagabandhu Majhi, who is alleged shot dead by Naxals while distributing pattas to the tribals at Gona village near Raighar was the most prominent tribal leader in the area. Even after his demise, he is still remembered for his advocacy of tribal rights. Since his student days he always stood for the cause of the tribal welfare in the district.
He had lunched himself on the political arena in 1998 when he was elected as the president of Pendrani College in Umerkote. Later he formed Dalit Samaj, an organization to fight against land grabbers.
The Bangladeshi settler’s factor is gaining ground behind the murder of the BJD MLA. The rivalry between Jagabandhu Majhi and Bangladeshi is known to the local people of area. As Majhi started his political career focusing on tribal issues and urged tribals to fight against illegal migrants who grabbed their land and exploited them in many ways. He used to travel to the tribal villages on his bicycle to create awareness among the innocent tribals and persuaded them to change their way of living by making themselves well educated and enterprising” remembered Jagannath Nayak, a veterinary worker of Gona village near Raighar who is also a member of Dalit Samaj since its inception.
Upendra Gand, an ex-sarapanch of Haldi GP who was present at the patta distribution function can't believes that murder is a handiwork of Moists. Topiram Nayak Sarpanch of Timanpur, said that whenever Maoists attack anyone, they initially warn that person and put posters against him but as far as I know, Majhi didn’t receive any such warnings from Maoists, he said.

It is known to every one that the Bangladeshi leadership was behind the murderous attacks on Majhi in 2004 and subsequent years. Of late, my brother was resisting the encroachment of the government land by the Banglashi settlers in the Umerkote and Raighar area saying the non-tribals can not encroach the tribal land in the PESA area. This was the reason for the raising conflict between him and the Bangladeshi settlers in the recent past in the area. Majhi was having sharp differences with the some leaders within the BJD here said the sister of Jagabandhu Majhi, Jayanti Mala Majhi.

Umerkote MLA killing: Cops still groping in the dark

Nabarangpur:
Even as the body of slain BJD MLA Jagabandhu Majhi was consigned to flames, the police and Crime Branch sleuths were busy picking up the threads to try and track the assassins.

“The police are trying to ascertain if the reason behind the murder was political or personal rivalry. A probe into all theories is on as Maoists have not taken up the responsibility of the murder, which they generally do if they are involved,” said the sources.

According to eyewitnesses, the three bike-borne youths in their mid twenties came close to the dias, shot at PSO Pramod Kumar Patro from point blank range hitting him in the eye. As Patro dropped to the ground dead, the two fired at the BJD MLA at his ear. The other miscreant was waiting on a motor cycle in the approaching road close to the stage. Then the killers snatched the service revolver of Majhi’s security officer and fired at both of them for a second time. The Legislator and the PSO received two bullets each. During the firing, a local Rama Dash Gond was also hit. Many believe that the assailants might have tried to give a Maoist colour to the incident considering the proximity of the area to Chattisgarh. The MLA had created several enemies and opened several fronts. He wielded enormous power in the region, remarked the sources while speculating on different angles to the murder.

More recently, on March, 2010 a section of the Gond tribes was aggrieved over Majhi, in Raighar school headmaster Ghana Shyam Gond’s death under mysteries circumstances. The BJP and Congress leaders alleged than that Gonda had been killed by a group of BJD workers particularly the followers of the MLA. In addition Gonda Samaj belonging to the Scheduled Community submitted memorandum to the Chief Minister through the local administration against Jagabandhu Majhi. Congress leaders demanded a CI. probe into the murder.

However, Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik ordered Crime Branch investigation and the case is pending with the local court. His tiff with a Raipur-based trader was well known to locals but they insist that is an old story and part payments had been made. The MLA had been attacked twice before in 2004 and 2008.

Jagabandhu started his political career when he become the president of Pendrani College at Umerkote in 1998. He kept contact with tribals and strengthened his social and political position with them.

In 2000 Jagabandhu organised the Dalit Samaj movement against Bengali settlers in Nabarangpur district. He lunched the agitation for restoration of the lands of the tribals from Bengali settlers. The movement took a violent communal turn and nine persons were killed when the police opened fire on the agitating mob. The law and order situation for some time went out of the control. The land disputes related to ethnic issues appears to be the most likely cause of murder. In fact he had innumerable cases registered against him. He shot into prominence during the ethnic riots in Raighar and was subsequently roped in by the ruling BJD. The police were in search to nab Majhi who was hiding himself in the jungles.

In 2004, the Dalit Samaj won three Zilla Parishad seats from Raighar block and 10 Samiti members. Bhanumati Majhi, a close associate of the MLA became the chairperson of Raighar block. In 2004 when the BJD decided to grab the Zilla Parishad president post and secretly contacted Jagabandhu. The BJD gave assurance to him to withdraw the cases. Jagabandhu obtained anticipatory bail as assured by the Government and surrendered before the court at Umerkote. In 2004, he fought the Assembly elections as an Independent from Umerkote seat but lost. After 15 days before the elections, he was shot in the waist by assailants, which paralysed his legs making him wheel chair bound since then. Again in 2008, a bomb was hurled on his vehicle when he was on his way to Umerkote from Raighar. The bomb did not explode.

Locals recall how Majhi was inducted to the BJD amidst much fanfare in 2008 with CM Naveen Patnaik and top leaders. In 2009 he won the seat for the first time after being given a BJD ticket.

The State Government is now claming that the Maoist involvement is suspected in the killing of the MLA. Maoists generally come in a group to kill a person and leave Maoists literature and posters before they leave the incident place.

The Maoists have not claimed so far the killing of MLA Jagabandhu. It is known to every one that non-tribal leadership was behind the murderous attack on Majhi in 2004. Similar attack might have taken place on Majhi this time too.

Sources said that the investigators were trying to gather leads regarding the involvement of contract killers. Senior police officials those who are working under Nabarngapur district suspecting the people those who killed Jagabandhu are professional killers. This time people particularly tribals expect that the State Government will come out with truth and protect the land rights of the people of this district.

ADG (Crime Branch) Abhaya who was camping in Umerkote has returned back to Cuttack. Meanwhile, CB IG Susant Kumar Nath has taken over the investigation charge from Tuesday. The State police had rushed a scientific team to Umerkote, while another had already headed to Chhattisgarh in search of the bike-borne killers. However, no one was still sure if it was Maoist could be behind the killing or was it professional killers hired by someone.

IG Nath who was the SP of Nabarangpur during the Raighar incident in 2001 that witnessed violent clashes between the tribals and the Bangladeshi settlers reached Raighar on Monday and visited village Gona to take stock of the situation and interacted with his departmental officials. The Crime Branch which took the charge to investigate the incident has bad track record here, as it still failed to solve the case of 2004 where deceased MLA Majhi was attacked by two unidentified gunmen while attending a marriage ceremony at Raighar and in 2010 in the case of the missing school headmaster Ghana Shyam Gond a Headmaster of Birpur primary Seba Asrama under Raighar Block who was missing from his house later his dead body was recovered in Chhattisgarh forest under mysterious circumstances

In these two cases the Crime Branch even failed to file preliminary charge sheet within the statutory period in the court against the accused persons. By observing these two earlier issues there is an ambiguity that the investigating agency this time could solve the problem said an advocate of Umerkote Bar Association Prasant Sahu.

“Nothing can be said for sure at this moment. The police are yet to get any lead regarding the motive behind the crime and the people involved in it. The Crime Branch is investigating into all possible angles. I hope things will be clear within a day or two,” Nabarangpur Superintendent of Police Niti Sekhar said.

BJD MLA Jagabandhu Majhi & his PSO shot dead.

Nabarangpur:
In a shocking incident Umerkote Legislator of the ruling BJD in Odisha, Jagabandhu Majhi, (39) and his personal security officer were shot dead by unidentified men at a public meeting in Gona under Raighar police limit here on Saturday.
As per the statements of the party workers present at the meeting while Mr.Majhi distributing land records to the local villagers at around 1 pm three unidentified men came in a hero honda splender plus bike, two persons opened fire to the personal security officer P.K Patro, during the fire a supporter also critically injured. After they gone near Majhi and fired in the gun of PSO on the back of Majhi on the spot died they shouted some slogans of Maoists.
The bodies of Majhi and his PSO, have been taken to the Raighar Police station and investigation was on as the site was close to Maoist-hit area of Chhattisgarh, involvement of Maoists in the killing was suspected and various aspects were being examined to ascertain the fact, said the Superitendent of Police Niti Sekhar.
Prior to this incident Maoists has also attacked to Majhi on 13th March 2004 at Raighar, while he was attending a marriage ceremony of former chairperson, Bhanumati Majhi,

Mr. Majhi was the president of Pendrani College of Umerkote, in the year 2001, later he was also president of dalit samaj, organized agitations on behalf of local tribal people, in the Raighar block on illegal migrants from Bangladesh, and against the illegal land encroachment of their community land by outside settlers predominantly Bengalis. He was also elected as zilla parisad member, in the year 2007.

After sustaining a major injury to his spinal cord in a Maoist attack in 13th March 2004 while attending a marriage function of former chairperson of Raighar block, Bhanumati Majhi. He joined in the ruling Biju Janata Dal, on 2008, elected as MLA . Mr.Majhi was political worker who rose from grass roots to serve the tribals and his death has evoked tremendous condemnation and revulsion from all quarters.

Mr. Majhi took lead role in the dalit samaj agitation and in the month of June 24th 2001 violent clash broken out in Raigarh over long standing land dispute between tribals and Bengali migrants. In the ethnic violence the police men were forced to fire when tribals started getting violent where 5 people were killed in police firing, more than 300 people were injured and property worth cores of rupees were damaged.

Collector builds confidence by grievance redressal

Also Published in
The Pioneer. Bhubaneswar Dated:21.Sept.2011.
The Statesman,Bhubaneswar, Orissadiary.Com, Publictrustofindia.com, odishabarta.com.
BASANT RATH.
Monday and Saturday are the Grievance Day at the Nabarangpur district office. Any citizen can file his or her grievance petition personally to the Collector at the Collectorate. District Collector Sibabrata Dash listens to the grievances and takes appropriate steps with necessary follow-up for their redressal.

Over 150 people from various parts of the district submitted their complaints and grievances to the Collector during the grievance cell programme held at the Collectorate on Monday.

The Collector conducted hearings on the petitions related to housing, house sites, pensions, financial support, self-employment and problems related to the physically-challenged, medical assistance, land disputes, family problems and civil supplies including ration cards and other grievances.

The complaints and grievances were segregated department-wise and forwarded to the departments concerned. The concerned officials were asked to take the necessary follow-up actions to address the grievances at the earliest.

Speaking to reporters, Dash said that every official must conduct a fortnightly review and top priority must be given to solve the problems mentioned in the petitions.

Preparatory Meeting For the celebration of Mondei-2011.

The Pioneer / The statesman. Bhubaneswar Dated:20.Sept.2011
orissadiary.com/odishabarta.com
By: Basant Rath, Nabarangpur:
The preparatory meeting for the celebration of the Annual Tribal Cultural festival Mondei-2011 was held at the Ashok Meheta conference hall of Collectorate under the chairmanship of District Collector, Mr.Sibabrata Dash here. It was decided to bring massal (torches) from Raj Jagannathpur , that is under Nandahandi block. The block level Mondei will kicks off from 17 October to 28 October and the district level festival will be from November 1st to 5th.

The festivals will have cultural programmes consisting of Drama, dance, songs, sports, traditional music, open quiz, drawing, Miss, Mr and Mrs Nabarangpur, recitation of Poem, Tribal healthy baby contest, Photo exhibition, sand arts, and competitions will be held. Besides that Best Journalists from Print and electronics media will also honoured at the function.

Mr. Dash said the aim of Mondei was to spot the hidden talents in the fields of art, culture, sports, and encourage in the participations of different competitions which is being organized for the first time during the festival.
Though in Mondei-2006 and 2010 no one was felicitated with the Mondei sanmman, this year Former Speaker of Loksabha, Rabi Roy, Raghunath Panigrahy, and Purnachandra Bidika,a would be honoured, he added. DIPRO, Bhujang Bhusana Rao, presented the details for the preparation of Mondei. Different committees formed to coordinate the function.

ST & SC development Commissioner visited Nabarangpur.

Nabarangpur:
The ST & SC development secretary-cum-commissioner Mr.Sontosh Kumar Sarangi visited the district. On Saturday he visited Kanyasharama’s of Dabugam,Papadahandi and Umerkote interacted with the students. The students of the Kanyashram Papadahandi, alleged that the water sinking from the roof of school and hostel. Mr.Sarangi directed the ITDA, officials to repair immediately. He also visited Chingudiguda, village under Jharigam block, interacted with the farmers, and advised to cultivate cash crops. PA ITDA, Rashmiranjan Sahoo, DWO, Mukund Nihal, OTLP, officials also present during the visit.

Headmaster, JE held for bungling fund in Umerkote.

Nabarangpur:
A headmaster and a junior engineer (JE) of Jharigam block have been arrested following misappropriation of District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) fund.
According to reports, Bijan Kumar Ray, headmaster of Dokrikot Primary School under Umerkote educational circle, allegedly, had misappropriated `6. 3 lakh meant for construction of a school building. The headmaster withdrew the sum in two phases such as `2 lakh and `4.3 lakh, respectively, without doing any work.
Similarly, Rajkishor Baliarshing, JE, who was in charge of surveillance, approved the bill for sanction of the money in favour of Ray.
Finding the massive corruption, Nabarangpur DPC Ananda Jena had lodged an FIR in Jharigam Police Station against the duo. Acting on the report, the Jharigam police registered a case under 420/409/ 109 of the IPC and arrested Baliarsing from Jharigam and Ray from his resident at Umerkote.
Both the accused were forwarded to Umerkote court, where the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Santunu Kumar Das rejected their bail petitions and remanded them to judicial custody.
Earlier, in such an incident, District Collector Sibabrata Dash had suspended one headmaster, JE, CRCC and ACO of Jharigam Block and issued so-cause notice to the Umerkote DI of Schools.

Three mobile animal health units opened in N'rangpur

July 28, 2011 The Pioneer, Bhubaneswar.

Three mobile animal health units were inaugurated in Jharigam, Umerkote and Righar blocks of Nabarangpur district by Agriculture Minister, Pradeep Maharathy, Science and Technology Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi, and MP Pradeep Majhi.

Inaugurating the mobile animal health units, Minister Majhi said that the mobile health units would cover about three blocks in Nabarangpur districts, while other seven blocks will be covered soon by such units.

The State Government is firm on implementation of Vision 2020 for development of animal husbandry sector in the State. It aims at generating about five lakh manpower every year to ensure better socio-economic conditions of the farmers. From now, health camps for cattle will be conducted at every gram panchayat(GP) of the State, he added.

Hoping for self-sufficiency in cattle feed and dairy production, Majhi said the farmers would be able to reach the target of 10 lakh tonne milk production per annum and one lakh hectares of grassland for cattle feed in the next few years. Later the Ministers and MP inaugurated a chilling plant at Jhgarigam.