FIH-certified Rourkela hockey stadium world's largest in terms of seating capacity: Odisha govt
Bhubaneswar (PTI): Amid a row over the status of Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela among major stadia across the globe, the Odisha government claimed that it is the world's largest facility in terms of seating capacity and certified by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
The Rourkela facility will host the Men's World Cup Hockey, organised by the FIH, along with Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
The tournament will be held between January 13 and 29.
After Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the "world's largest hockey stadium" in Rourkela on Thursday, a BJP MLA contested the claim and asserted that it is "the fourth".
"Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela is the world's biggest. We are not saying this. It has been certified by FIH that the stadium is the biggest in terms of seating capacity," Sports and Youth Affairs Minister T K Behera said.
BJP lawmaker Shankar Oram from Biramitrapur in Sundergarh district claimed that the National Hockey Stadium in Pakistan's Lahore with a capacity of 45,000 people is the world's largest.
It is followed by Chandigarh Hockey Stadium (30,000) and Weingart Stadium (multipurpose) in Los Angeles in the US (22,355).
"Bisra Munda Hockey Stadium comes at number four", he said wondering how the chief minister called it the world's largest.
Odisha's Sports Secretary R Vaineel Krishna had earlier clarified to PTI that the Bisra Munda Hockey Stadium is the largest as 20,000 people can formally seat and witness a match which is not available anywhere in India.
Other stadia in India might have the capacity to accommodate more people but that includes "standing accommodation", he said.
The Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar has a seating arrangement for 15,000 people.
The Birsa Munda Stadium also has a World Cup Village with 225 rooms to house 400 players and officials. Of the total 44 matches of the World Cup, 20 will be played in Rourkela.
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Eight militants arrested in Manipur
Imphal (PTI): Security forces arrested eight active cadres, belonging to several factions of the banned Kangleipak Communist Party, in Manipur's Imphal East and Imphal West districts, police said on Saturday.
Four members of the proscribed KCP (People's War Group) were apprehended from Andro Leitanpekpham area in Imphal East district on Thursday, a senior officer said.
"One .32 pistol along with one magazine, three .32 live rounds, and two radio sets were recovered from their possession," he said.
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Three active cadres of the outlawed KCP (Taibanganba) were arrested from Langol Game village Zone-II area in Imphal West district, he said.
They were temporarily residing at Langol Game village relief camp, the officer said.
One cadre of the banned KCP (Ibungo Ngangom) was apprehended from a farmhouse at Langol in Imphal West district, he said.
Search operations have been conducted in Manipur since ethnic violence broke out two years ago.
More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic strife between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023.
The Centre had, on February 13, imposed the President’s rule in the state after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned.
The state assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation.
