Similipal National Park opens for tourists after 7 months
Baripada (Odisha): The Similipal National Park was thrown open to visitors on Sunday after remaining closed for more than seven months in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said.
Amid strict adherence to the guidelines, 258 tourists entered the picturesque national park in 40 vehicles from two entry points on the first day, said AK Biswal, the assistant conservator of forest of the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR).
While 175 tourists went inside the reserve in 25 vehicles through Pithabata, 83 visitors entered in 15 vehicles through the Kaliani entry point, said Biswal, who along with STR staff greeted the visitors with roses at the entry gates.
"The visitors were enthusiastic. The vehicles, passengers, and their belongings were scanned at the entry and exit points. The footfall is likely to increase," he said.
Long queues of visitors were seen both at Pithabata near Baripada and Kaliani near Jashipur since morning for obtaining permission to enter the reserve.
The permit to enter the park through these two points were issued from 6-9 am. Each vehicle was required to have a tour guide.
All the visitors were asked to wear face masks, use sanitizers and strictly adhere to COVID-19 protocols, including social distance during their visit, Biswal added.
The Similipal National Park, a top tiger reserve in the country, attracts thousands of tourists each year.
The authorities have made additional arrangements for the night stay of the visitors with prior booking at Barehipani, Kumari, Gudugudia, Ramatirtha, and Jamuani inside the sanctuary area.
The visiting day tourists are directed to come out of the Barehipani and Joranda waterfall sights by 3 pm and Chahala by 4 pm. All-day tourists are required to leave the sanctuary area by 5 pm, the official said.
The visitors who intend to stay overnight can make their reservations at www.ecotourodisha.com.
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Haryanvi singer Masoom Sharma booked for indecent, offensive language at Dehradun college
Dehradun, Apr 13 (PTI): An FIR has been registered against Haryanvi folk singer Masoom Sharma on charges of using indecent, obscene and objectionable language from the stage during an event organised by a students' union at Dehradun's DAV Post Graduate College, police said on Monday.
Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Harish Rawat expressed concern over the matter, saying that the state government should formulate a clear standard operating procedure (SOP) for such events.
Dehradun Superintendent of Police (City) Pramod Kumar said that a case was registered against Sharma late Sunday night at the Kotwali Dalanwala police station. The action was taken based on videos of the incident—which happened on Saturday evening—that surfaced on social media, as well as a written complaint filed by Pranchal Nauni, a representative of the 'Satyam Shivam' student organisation at DAV Post Graduate College.
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The complaint alleged that during the event, Sharma used indecent, obscene and objectionable words from the stage, thereby, hurting the sentiments of the students and members of the general public present there.
The police official said that an investigation has been initiated after registering a case against Sharma under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 296 (performing obscene acts or singing obscene songs in public places), Section 352 (intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace), Section 79 (using words, gestures, sounds, or displaying any object with the intent to outrage a woman's modesty), and Section 351(3) (issuing serious criminal threats).
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also attended the event, but he had departed from the venue before Sharma's alleged misconduct took place. However, Umesh Kumar, the Independent MLA from the Khanpur constituency in Haridwar, was present at the venue.
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The organisers of the event, feeling uncomfortable with the folk singer's conduct, attempted to bring the situation under control. However, a video of the incident subsequently went viral on social media.
Meanwhile, former chief minister Rawat said that he, too, had attended a student union event just the day before, and that visiting such gatherings to interact with students has always been a matter of pride for him.
"However, I am deeply concerned about the nature of the songs being performed on stage there and the kind of 'cultural gunpowder' being introduced into Uttarakhand and the potential impact this will have on our culture, dialects, songs, and music," he said.
