Odisha tightens security in Kandhamal over VHP leader’s death anniversary on Janmashtami day
Phulbani (PTI): The authorities have made elaborate security arrangements for holding a peaceful ‘Janmashtami’ celebration on Monday, which will also be observed as the death anniversary of slain VHP leader Swami Laxamanananda Saraswati.
Saraswati, along with his four disciples, was gun downed at his Jalespeta ashram in the district while celebrating Janmashtami Mohastav on August 23, 2008, triggering widespread violence that left 43 people dead.
Two senior ministers of the BJP government - Rabi Narayan Naik and Suryabansi Suraj - are scheduled to attend Saraswati’s death anniversary programme on Monday, said Jalespeta ashram chief Jiban Muktananda Pujari.
Southern Range DIG JN Pankaj and senior police officers on Sunday visited the ashram and reviewed security arrangements made for the occasion, an official said.
Security in entire Kandhamal district was tightened by deploying armed police personnel who conducted patrolling and naka checking at vulnerable places, Superintendent of Police Suvendu Kumar Patra told PTI.
Elaborate security arrangement has been made at Saraswati’s two ashrams in the district at Jalespeta and Chakapada, the SP said.
The VHP leader’s killing in 2008 led to large-scale communal violence in the district, leaving 43 people dead, 395 churches attacked and thousands of houses plundered or burnt rendering 75,000 odd people homeless.
Patra said peace committee meetings have been held inviting leaders of both communities, prominent persons, political leaders and others.
The people have also been asked through the public announcement system not to pay any heed to rumours, he said.
“We have kept strict vigil over the situation and assured people of the best of the service of the administration during the celebrations and nothing to be worried upon," said Amrit Rituraj the Collector and DM.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Heavy rain, hailstorms lash parts of Uttarakhand; all districts put on high alert
Dehradun (PTI): Heavy rain and hailstorms accompanied by strong winds lashed several districts of Uttarakhand on Sunday morning, prompting the state administration to put all district authorities on high alert.
The sudden change in weather caused uprooted trees to block roads and disrupted power supply at various locations.
Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman chaired a review meeting with district officials to assess the situation.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rain and thunderstorms at most places across all districts for Monday and Tuesday. Snowfall is expected in regions situated at altitudes of 4,000 metres and above.
An 'orange alert' remains in place for Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri, Pauri, Nainital, Champawat, and Udham Singh Nagar. These districts are likely to witness isolated heavy rain, hailstorms, and intense to very intense spells of rain accompanied by gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kmph, the IMD said.
The weather office predicted that maximum temperatures across the state are likely to fall by 3-5 degrees Celsius over the next three to four days. During the past 24 hours, maximum temperatures remained "markedly below normal" in the plains and ranged from "markedly" to "appreciably" below normal in the hilly regions.
Dehradun experienced dark, overcast skies early Sunday, creating night-like conditions during morning hours. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 34.7 degrees Celsius, 5.3 degrees Celsius below the seasonal average.
For the state capital, the forecast predicts a partly to generally cloudy sky with a high of 31 degrees Celsius and a low of 19 degrees Celsius.
Significant rainfall was recorded across the state after 8.30 am on Sunday, with Jollygrant receiving 21.6 mm and Mohakampur recording 19.8 mm. Other areas, including Mukteshwar (15.0 mm), Mussoorie (13.4 mm), and Pithoragarh (8.5 mm), also saw measurable precipitation.
Secretary Suman directed officials to clear blocked roads on priority to ensure public convenience. Specific instructions were issued regarding the Char Dham Yatra, ordering that helicopter services must operate strictly according to weather conditions to ensure pilgrims' safety.
Isolated places in the remaining hilly districts are also expected to experience thunderstorms with lightning and intense rain spells.
