Bhubaneswar (PTI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to launch a national highway project here on Saturday, besides attending meetings on Left-wing extremism and disaster management at the state secretariat.

The home minister flew into Bhubaneswar late on Friday night, and was received at the airport by BJP state president Manmohan Samal and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, among others.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is also expected to attend the two back-to-back meetings at the state secretariat.

There is, however, no official confirmation about any one-to-one meeting between Shah and Patnaik.

Shah's visit to the state comes amid the BJD extending its support to the bill replacing the Delhi services ordinance in a boost to the treasury benches, especially in Rajya Sabha, and also backing the BJP-led NDA government against the no-confidence motion brought by opposition parties in Parliament.

The home minister will also visit the BJP's state office on Saturday afternoon, and hold a closed-door meeting with party leaders.

His last visit to the state on June 17 was cancelled in view of cyclone Biparjoy' hitting Gujarat.

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.



Bengaluru (PTI): A Congress functionary has been arrested on POCSO charges for alleged inappropriate behaviour with a 16-year-old minor girl.

The 40-year-old complainant has also accused the Congress functionary Anand P of assault, criminal intimidation and coercion, police said.

According to the FIR, Anand allegedly used to visit his house and developed an illicit relationship with his wife.

When he questioned their relationship, his wife and Anand allegedly assaulted him and attempted to kill him. The complaint also alleges repeated acts of violence against the children, police said.

The accused and the complainant’s wife allegedly assaulted the children multiple times with sticks and stabbed them with a knife, causing bleeding injuries, according to the FIR.

The complainant claimed to possess photographic evidence of the incidents, and he alleged inappropriate behaviour by Anand towards his minor daughter.

“Anand has also inappropriately touched my 16-year-old daughter and indecently spoken to her,” the FIR quoted him as saying.

Police said the complaint further accused Anand P of criminal intimidation and coercion in property matters.

Police said a case has been registered based on the complaint, and further investigation is underway.