Student's death: Normal life partially hit as Cong, other parties observe bandh across Odisha
Bhubaneswar (PTI): Normal life was partially affected in Odisha on Thursday as opposition Congress and seven other political parties enforced a 12-hour bandh across the state over the death of a college student who set herself on fire after being denied justice in an alleged sexual harassment incident.
Roads in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and other parts of the state wore a deserted look with a few vehicles plying, and train services have been affected in some places like Jatni, Puri and Bhadrak stations as activists of the opposition parties started demonstrations since 6 am in support of the bandh.
Markets, schools and business establishments remained closed.
The protesters staged blockades on several arterial roads in the state capital, raised slogans against the BJP government and demanded justice for the deceased college girl in Balasore.
Leaders of the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), CPIM (ML), Forward Bloc, RJD, SP and NCP hit the streets, holding their party flags to enforce the bandh.
“We have been telling people to support the bandh as there is no safety for women in Odisha since the BJP formed the government in the state. As many as 15 women and girls are raped every day in the state, and the government has completely failed to check such incidents,” Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Rama Chandra Kadam alleged.
However, essential services, such as the movement of ambulances, medical facilities, medicine stores and milk parlours, have been exempted from the purview of the bandh.
The opposition parties have already requested the authorities of markets, transport, educational institutions, offices and banks to support the shutdown call.
“The bandh is being observed peacefully across the state, including the capital city of Bhubaneswar, and the public is requested to cooperate,” OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das said, adding that picketings are underway on national highways and railway stations.
Odisha’s Petroleum Dealers’ Association has closed all its fuel outlets from 6 am to 6 pm on Thursday as a precautionary measure.
“We are sorry for the inconvenience,” said Sasanka Shekhar Sahu, the president of the association.
The state government has tightened security across Odisha in view of the bandh.
The home department has directed all district collectors and SPs to remain on high alert in view of the road blockades, picketings, agitations, and also cautioned them against violence during the 12-hour bandh.
The government has instructed its employees to come to their offices before time.
The police in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and other major cities have made extensive security measures to ensure public order, an officer said.
High-resolution AI-enabled cameras and drones have been deployed at key points, markets, and government buildings to monitor the situation, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh said.
“The situation is being closely monitored through a central command setup,” the officer added.
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25 lakh properties in Bengaluru brought under e-Khata system: Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said that the state government has brought over 25 lakh properties under the e-Khata system in Bengaluru.
e-Khata is an electronic property certificate that maintains ownership information in an online database.
The e-Khata initiative aimed to ensure accuracy, transparency and universal coverage for property owners, he said.
Addressing a press conference here, Shivakumar, who is also the Bengaluru in-charge Minister, said over 25 lakh properties are being brought under the e-Khata system. Of them more than 7,000 applications have been processed, and additional outreach measures being planned for those yet to obtain their e-Khata.
"Twenty five lakh e-Khatas is a great number which has created history," he said.
The Deputy CM said the government is ensuring that every e-Khata will have its GPS, the shape of the property, and the measurement with every photo and document.
He explained that the government is integrating Aadhaar details, digital documentation, GPS mapping and property sketches to create a robust database.
"We want to see that every record is filled right. They (officials) are asking for documentation, stamp, digital documents. We wanted to connect every Aadhaar card and have it online," Shivakumar said.
To facilitate access, the Deputy CM announced the opening of more than 50 centres across Bengaluru, many of them in government schools, where citizens can apply for or rectify their e-Khata records.
"All of them will be working this Saturday. This 'Khata Mela' will be done. It is 'Nanna Khata, Nanna Swathu'," he said.
Applicants whose documents require verification will be given an acknowledgement and asked to return after 15 days, during which officials will conduct site inspections, he said.
Shivakumar said the government has also taken steps to identify and reclaim properties recorded as roads in revenue documents, asserting that such lands belong to the government.
"We have decided through the law that all the roads in the revenue records have been taken out. Those properties belong to the government itself," he said.
He noted that the initiative has received recognition from the Union government. "The Government of India has awarded us. It said that it is the model for the entire country," he said, while thanking officials involved in the project.
The Deputy CM said the government expects around 10 lakh additional households to benefit from the drive and assured that even those who have not downloaded their documents will receive printed copies free of cost at their residences.
"We will see that all the 25 lakh people will get their e-Khata to their home free of cost," Shivakumar said.
On apartment properties, he said all flats that have obtained occupancy certificates have been cleared.
"All the 37,460 flats (who have applied for e-Khata) have been issued an occupancy certificate. We have cleared all of them," the Deputy CM said.
