Odisha: Nine Maoists, Including Two Women Cadres, Surrender In Boudh

Odisha: Nine Maoists Including Two Women Cadres Surrender In Boudh

by Hemanta Pande

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

As many as nine Maoists including two women cadres surrendered before Odisha Police here on Wednesday, ahead of the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and State assembly.

Boudh, May 8: As many as nine Maoists including two women cadres surrendered before Odisha Police here on Wednesday, ahead of the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and State assembly.

The surrendered Maoists were the native of Chhattisgarh and were the active members of outlawed Maoist outfit KKBN (Kalahandi-Kandhamal-Boudh-Nayagarh) Division operating in Boudh district, informed Inspector General of Police, Southern Range, Jai Narayan Pankaj.

Speaking to the reporters, Pankaj said that due to the enhanced anti-Naxal operations carried out in the both states, Odisha and Chhattisgarh, the red ultras are surrendering fearing for their lives and are reluctant to cross over to Chhattisgarh because of the tight security cordon due to the elections.

The Maoists, who surrendered, were disturbed and frustrated by the continuous unethical activities in Maoist organization like sexual harassment of female cadre, extortion of funds through intimidation, promoting Ganja cultivation and smuggling, taking levy from Ganja mafias and induction of young boys and girls in the organisation by false promise and propaganda, the senior police officer said.

They will also receive government assistance in accordance with rehabilitation policy applicable for Maoists who join the mainstream, he added.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened ahead of the general elections as Naxals are using Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Boudh corridor to remain connected with the cadres from Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

Simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections will be held in Odisha in four phases, starting May 13.

Read More Odisha News

LS Polls: Phase 5 Sees 10.28 Pc Voter Turnout Till 9 Am

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

New Delhi, May 20: The fifth phase of polling for Lok Sabha polls on May 20 across 49 parliamentary constituencies spread over six states and two Union Territories (UTs) saw a voter turnout of 10.28 per cent till 9 am, the Election Commission (ECI) said on Monday.

While Bihar recorded 8.86 per cent voter turnout, Jammu and Kashmir recorded 7.63 per cent, Jharkhand 11.68 per cent, Ladakh 10.51 per cent, Maharashtra 6.33 per cent Odisha 6.87 per cent and West Bengal 15.35 per cent, the poll body said.

Odisha, where the Legislative Assembly polls are also underway simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls, recorded a 6.99 per cent voter turnout till 9 am in the second and final phase of elections.

In the Gandey Assembly constituency in Jharkhand, where by-elections are underway, 10.37 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 9 am. 10.88 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 9 am in the Assembly by-election to Lucknow East constituency in Uttar Pradesh, the ECI stated.

As per the ECI, over 8.95 crore voters, including 4.69 crore males, 4.26 crore females, and 5409 third-gender electors, will decide the fate of 695 candidates in the fifth phase of voting.

The fifth phase is witnessing key contests in various constituencies. Leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Piyush Goyal, Ujjwal Nikam, Karan Bhushan Singh, LJP (Ramvilas) chief Chirag Paswan, JKNC chief Omar Abdullah, and RJD leader Rohini Acharya are looking for electoral success.

The eight states/UTs polling in phase 5 are: Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

Cities like Mumbai, Thane, and Lucknow are polling in this phase, which has in the past suffered from urban apathy in voting.

Of the 49 Lok Sabha seats, 14 are from Uttar Pradesh, 13 from Maharashtra, 7 from West Bengal, 5 from Bihar, 3 from Jharkhand, 5 from Odisha, and one each from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

In a bid to create a peaceful atmosphere for the electors, a total of 2,000 flying squads, 2105 static surveillance teams, 881 video surveillance teams, and 502 video viewing teams are keeping surveillance round the clock across the 94,732 polling stations.

A total of 216 international border check posts and 565 inter-state border check posts are keeping a strict vigil on any illicit flow of liquor, drugs, cash, and freebies. Strict surveillance has been kept on sea and air routes, the ECI said.

(ANI)

Iranian Prez Ebrahim Raisi Feared Dead, Helicopter Wreckage Found

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Dubai, May 20: All passengers and the crew of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter are feared dead in the crash, head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society Pir-Hossein Kolivand announced.

"No signs of alive passengers have been found after the discovery of the crashed helicopter location," he said on IRIB TV channel.

The helicopter also carried Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Governor of the East Azerbaijan Province Malek Rakhmati and Tabriz Imam of Friday Prayer Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem.

According to IRNA, Kolivand said the teams had arrived at the wreckage of the crashed copter.

President Raisi was returning several others after inaugurating a dam on Iran's border with the Azerbaijan Republic when his helicopter crashed.

In a televised address, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged calm and assured that there would be no disruption in the country's governance.

(IANS)

LS polls: PM Modi To Campaign In Odisha, West Bengal Today

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

New Delhi, May 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address two public meetings each in Odisha and West Bengal on Monday for the ongoing Lok Sabha election.

In Odisha, Prime Minister Modi held a roadshow in Puri at 8 a.m. He has already moved to address a public meeting in Angul at 10:15 a.m. and Cuttack at 12 p.m. Later, the Prime Minister will visit West Bengal and address election rallies in Tamluk at 3 p.m. and Jhargram at 4:45 p.m.

Major political developments that will unfold across the country on Monday:

*Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address public meetings in Haryana and Delhi on Monday.

*From Haryana, Amit Shah is scheduled to address three public meetings -- one in Karnal at the Dashahara Ground, GT Road, at 11:15 a.m., second in Hisar at the Government College Ground at 1 p.m. and the third public meeting in Jhajjar at the Maharshi Dayanand Stadium at 2:45 p.m. Later, the Union Home Minister will visit Delhi and address a public meeting in South Delhi in Sangam Vihar at 6:30 p.m.

*Bharatiya Janata Party President J.P. Nadda will conduct a roadshow in New Delhi from Hanuman Mandir, Main Market, to Nirankari Bhawan, Malviya Nagar at 5:30 p.m.

*Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Yogi Adityanath will address a public meeting in Chandigarh, Haryana and Delhi. He is scheduled to address a public meeting in Maloya of Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat at 12:15 p.m., followed by another election rally in Haryana's Kurukshetra at 2:15 p.m. and a third public meeting in Sirsa at 4:25 p.m. Later, he will visit Delhi and address a public meeting in East Lok Sabha seat at 7 p.m. in Mayur Vihar Phase-3.

*Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will address public meetings in support of SP-INDIA bloc in Lok Sabha constituencies of Dumariaganj at 12:15 p.m., Sant Kabir Nagar at 1:25 p.m. and Basti at 2:30 p.m.
*Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav along with Vikasheel Insan Party National President Mukesh Sahani will address a public meeting at 11 a.m. in Shivhar.

(With IANS inputs)

Odisha: Nine Maoists, Including Two Women Cadres, Surrender In Boudh

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