All roads lead to Cuttack Bali Yatra

The historic Bali Yatra started in Cuttack city on November 28. It was inaugurated by chief minister Naveen Patnaik. He hailed the rich maritime heritage of Odisha and recalled the state's trade ties with Bali, Sumatra, Java and Sri Lanka at the function.

Hundreds of people thronged the fair venue on the Mahanadi riverbed to get a feel of the state's rich art, craft and cuisine. Traders from Odisha and outside have set up around 1,300 stalls that are selling stone and bamboo household items like sila, chaki, kula, and tokei to latest electronic gadgets at the fair and on the paths leading to the ground. There were also stalls selling the famous dahi vada-alu dum and thunka puri that people look forward to savour at Bali Yatra.

Elaborate police arrangements have also been made. This year, the administration is focusing on organising grand cultural programmes to highlight the rich culture of the state. It has also come up with a special pavilion for the differently-abled people for the first time this year. Besides, the local civic body has emphasized on observing a polythene-free festival and accordingly the traders have been strictly asked to avoid use of polythene bags, plastic cups, glasses and plates.

The day also marked Kartik Purnima when people floated boats in different water bodies of the state. Source: ToI

During Naveen era law & order situation worsened in Odisha

Three rapes and four murders a day in the State

Every day, on an average, three rapes, four murders and 24 theft cases are reported in Odisha which recorded the highest-ever number of cognizable offences during the year 2011.

However, the State Government claimed that there was an improvement in the situation in many areas during 2011, especially in its Endeavour to combat leftwing extremism.

According to a White Paper on the crime situation and law and order during 2011, which was circulated in the State Assembly on Wednesday, crimes increased by 7.4 per cent in 2011 compared to 2010. A total of 73,630 cognisable cases were reported during 2011 compared to 68,508 in 2010.

The report even admitted that there was a reduction in the detection of crimes. During 2011, the percentage of detection was 84.1 against 85.3 during 2010. The White Paper stated that during 2011, there was increase in rape, murder, robbery, burglary and dowry cases in the State. However, there was a reduction of cases of rioting, motor accidents.

The report said murder marginally increased by 12.9 per cent over the previous year with reports of 1,477 murder cases in 2011 against 1,308 in 2010. There was also a decrease in detection of crimes with only 86 per cent against 87.1 per cent in 2010. During 2011, as many as 1,112 rape cases were registered against 1,025 in 2010.  The rape cases increased by 8.4 per cent in 2011 compared to 2010. There was also a decrease in detection of rape cases. The percentage of detection was 93.6 against 94.7 during 2010.

As many as 501 dacoity cases were reported during 2011 compared to 463 in 2010. The crime increased by 8.2 per cent. As many as 1,583 robbery cases were reported in 2011 compared to 1,491 in 2010. The number of burglary was 3,031 in 2011 compared to 2,855 in 2010. As many as 8,724 theft cases were reported during the year against 7,572 in 2010. However, there has been a decrease in rioting with 1,556 cases during the year compared to 1,779 cases in 2010.

Maoist activities, the report said 23 ultras were neutralised in police action, 146 were arrested and 50 surrendered. Besides, 127 weapons, 258 IDs and large quantities of explosives and ammunitions were recovered during 2011.

It said that while a number of camps and hideouts of Maoists were raided and destroyed, the impact of proactive initiatives was discernible in many areas where violence came down visibly. Importantly, not a single major oarganised Maoist attack on security forces took place during the year. The report claimed that the lawless activities of the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh, an offshoot of the CPI (Maoist).

Source: The Pioneer

Family court inaugurated in Berhampur by Chief Justice of Orissa High Court

Ganjam District Bar demands permanent bench of the High Court in the city

A family court was inaugurated on the premises of the Berhampur court on Saturday by the Chief Justice of the High Court, Justice V. Gopalagouda. During his visit to Ganjam district, Justice Gopalgouda also inaugurated the court of the civil judge (junior division) cum judicial magistrate 1st Class at Buguda. He also attended a legal literacy camp at R. Damodarpalli village, which was organised by the Orissa State Legal Services Authority. Justice Das was accompanied by Justice I. Mohanty of the High Court.

The Chief Justice also interacted with the members of the Ganjam Bar Association during his visit to the city. The lawyers of the association through a memorandum put forward their list of long-standing demands before Justice Das.

Their main demand was establishment of a permanent bench of the High Court in the city for the benefit of inhabitants of south Orissa.

The lawyers also wanted filling up of vacant post of second additional district judge in the Berhampur court, construction of a well equipped lawyers' auditorium, posting of magistrates to fill up vacancies of two posts of JMFC. They wanted the MACT court and the office of the Assistant Commissioner Endowment to be shifted to the vicinity of district court. There was demand for establishment of a special court in the city to deal with disproportaionate assets cases arising from south Orissa.

The Ganjam Bar Association demanded the infrastructure on the court premises to be improved. They wanted the existing library building to be demolished and a double storied structure to be built in its place.

Supply of adequate furniture, books and other amenities to the Bar Association also found place in the memorandum.

The lawyers were of the opinion that the entire land of the SDJM court in the city which is under the Revenue department should be transferred to Judicial department for construction of a multi-storeyed building at the spot to locate all the courts of the city at one place.

Source: The Hindu