Gita Mehta, a renowned writer and filmmaker, and the sister of Odisha's Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, passed away at the age of 80 in New Delhi on Saturday.

Naveen Patnaik is expected to depart for the national capital shortly to attend to the family. Gita Mehta, the daughter of the legendary Biju Patnaik, had been unwell for a period.

Born in 1943 to Biju and Gyan Patnaik in New Delhi, Gita Mehta pursued her education in India and later at the University of Cambridge in the UK. Throughout her career, she authored several notable books, including "Karma Cola," "Snake and Ladders," "A River Sutra," "Raj," and "The Eternal Ganesha." Her contributions to literature and the arts have left an indelible mark on the world.

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Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 15 (PTI): The Kerala police on Saturday said as part of its special drive to crack down on individuals suspected of drug trafficking, 234 people were arrested, and varying quantities of several deadly narcotics, including MDMA, were seized.

The State Police Media Centre (SPMC) stated that on March 14, as part of the drive, D-Hunt, authorities inspected 2,362 individuals suspected of drug trafficking and arrested 234 of them.

The operation was carried out across the state to identify and take strict legal action against those involved in the storage and distribution of banned drugs.

Police registered 222 cases related to the possession of various prohibited substances, according to a statement issued by the SPMC.

Additionally, authorities seized 0.0119 kg of MDMA, 6.171 kg of cannabis, and 167 cannabis 'beedis' from those arrested.

Operation D-Hunt is being jointly implemented by the Range-based NDPS Coordination Cell and District Police Chiefs under the leadership of State Anti-Narcotics Task Force Head and ADGP (Law and Order) Manoj Abraham, following the instructions of State Police Chief Dr Sheikh Darvesh Sahib, the statement said.

The SPMC also announced that a 24-hour Anti-Narcotics Control Room (9497927797) has been set up to receive information from the public regarding drug-related activities.

The details of individuals who contact this number will be kept confidential, it added.

Furthermore, the operation will continue in the coming days through sustained surveillance and the creation of a database of individuals regularly involved in drug-related activities and transactions.