The last mile...

By Dhrutikam Mohanty

Biranchi Das, who shot to national fame and courted controversy as the trainer of a four-year-old marathoner, is felled by gangsters’ bullets

In this record-crazy country, Biranchi Das became a household name when he made a four-year old boy, Budhia Singh, run a 43-mile marathon. But fame gradually gave way to controversies and this week, the embattled coach was shot dead when he allegedly tried to mediate between a TV actress, Leslie Tripathy, and a gangster, Raja Acharya. Police reports indicate that the gangster was “harassing” the actress to marry him, and the controversial coach, known to Leslie, tried to play the role of a mediator. Speaking to TSI, the Commissioner of Police, Binay Behra, spoke of a “possible love triangle.” Raja is the prime accused in the murder of the coach. The police is also probing an angle that involves a scrap smuggling racket. Some scrap dealers were interrogated by the police. Incidentally, earlier the gangster managed to give the police the slip when his hideout was raided. The commissioner, while speaking to the media, felt that some police personnel could possibly have alerted the gangster. He said: “I suspect some people are not above board. We treat them as criminals and not police personnel.” Das was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen on the evening of April 13. As he was about sip a “pana (a traditional Oriya fruit juice)” with his students and family in a judo hall, he received a call on his cell phone, according to an eyewitness account. This was around 6:45 pm. “As he stepped out of the hall, all of a sudden the power went off,” a student of Das who was present at the spot, revealed. The coach was then heard screaming, “Raja ruha (stop Raja)”. The students, who then heard gunshots, rushed out. “We found him lying in a pool of blood,” one of them said. Das was rushed to a hospital, where he was declared brought dead. It was then that Biranchi Das’s brother Susant, who claimed to be present during the incident, accused Raja of committing the murder. He told the police that the gangster, along with two accomplices, stood in front of the hall and fired at Biranchi when he stepped out. The actress had earlier lodged a complaint against Raja, accusing him of “harassing” her. Biranchi, who was trying to protect Leslie, became the target. However, after the murder, the actress seemed to have gone into denial mode. Leslie claimed that she had “never approached" Biranchi for help. With regard to the multi-crore “illegal railway-scrap smuggling” racket, Das was a whistle blower. He had reportedly tipped off the police. This could also have been a reason for the murder, since scrap smuggling was one of the activities the gangster was involved in. The Opposition, however, is trying to give the case a political twist. For them, Das’s murder is “glaring proof” of Orissa’s “worsening” law and order situation.

Naveen spares no one

By Dhrutikam Mohanty
Naveen spares no one, when his clean image is at stake. Once again the Orissa Chief Minister has displayed that he will not allow any stain on his spotless kurta. He finally acted tough over the alleged sexual harassment scandal to save his own image as well as the image of his party and the government. He did not hesitate to oust his closest associate Debasis Nayak and a trusted lieutenant Maheswar Mohanty to give an end to the week long political crisis and turmoil over sexual slur.
On 25th March, the only lady marshal of Orissa Legislative Assembly Gayatri Panda had dropped a bombshell when she leveled the charges of sexual harassment against the Speaker Maheswar Mohanty. “He would make inappropriate gestures and send his driver and staff to persuade me to indulge in a physical relation with him,” she had charged, adding that Mohanty had sent his official car to her house around midnight on two occasions. As assembly was on session, Speaker gave a personal clarification on the floor of the house, 'It’s a conspiracy against me. Big wigs are involved in the plot. And I will not sit on the Chair till the Assembly Committee does not give its report.' The Opposition parties led by the Congress had stalled the proceedings of the assembly demanding an independent probe of the allegations. Leader of Opposition J.B. Pattnayak demanded the resignation of Speaker and a CBI probe. Interestingly, chief minister Naveen Patnaik who normally on any sensational issue instantly reacts - "law will take its own course"; did not agree for any 'impartial enquiry' nor did he ask the speaker to step down as demanded by the opposition. Situation took a new turn when Media reports suggested that Minister of State for Information and Public Relation Mr. Debashis Nayak was behind the conspiracy as the suspended female employee Gayatri Panda is reportedly close to him. Even some local media published photographs establishing the link.

This u-turn made it clear that the whole scenario is an outcome of murky political rivalry between two stalwart leaders of ruling Biju Janta Dal. Maheswar Mohanty was also in a combating mood. His supporters came down to street and organized road shows and protest rallies in his constituency and capital city Bhubaneswar openly condemning Mr. Nayak and Ms.Panda as conspirators. This foul play hampered the image of BJD in public and opposition congress utilized this opportunity to make mockery of Chief minister. Meanwhile senior party leaders and workers had alleged that it was Nayak, the person behind the conspiracy to tarnish the Speaker's image. Naveen, who is known for taking quick decisions whenever such issues come to the fore threatening to blemish his own clean image or the reputation of his party or government. But this time he took a long time to react. Although the prediction was that Naveen would not dare to touch Debasis as he is privy to all his secrets, but all was proved to be wrong. He preferred to sack him and directed the other stalwart of the party, the Speaker to resign.
Political pundits feel that the immediate problem for the BJD Boss is over and the opposition parties was made flat by the double dhamaka. But the future of BJD in Puri and Jajpur district of Orissa will be in jeopardy, they apprehended. Naveen has once again shown his political acumen in turning a crisis into an opportunity. On 31st March, while a serious crisis was looming large, Naveen handled the situation with a much-matured manner than his predecessors.

Temple turns Haven of miscreants !

By Dhrutikam Mohanty

Irresponsible behaviour of few sevayats & the loopholes in administrative arrangements has put a question mark in the sanctification of the famous shrine of Sri Jagannath in Puri, Orissa . The 'Koili Baikuntha' piligrim of this temple is considered to be the Kunjaban of Lord Krishna & Radha, but it's quite shocking to know that, such a heavenly place has turned into a haven of drug peddlers . In spite of strict safety rules & security arrangements by the temple administration, a miscreant named Shyam Pallai has successfully managed to deceive all and run his business of heroine for months. On 19th March, police caught him red-handed with 10 packets of heroine from the temple premises. In 1996, Palai was arrested by the town police station under NGPS and sent to jail for the same offence. Last year he was released from the jail and started drug peddling in and around Jagannath temple, as per the sources.

The ongoing deviation has affected the sanctity of the temple. This drugs peddling was not only taking place in Koili Baikuntha but in different places within the premises of the temple. This incident reveals that many people inside the temple campus have been regularly using drugs. According to a senior police official, ‘some persons, who are in the responsibility of serving the Lord & attending the devotees are addicted to such intoxicating drugs . Many among them are not only misbehaving the tourists and devotees but charges of plundering are also against them.’

A number of detestable incidents had occurred in the past which reveals how the shrine premises has turned into a center of criminal activities. On 20th March 08, just a day after the ceasure of drugs, police found a revolver from a person named B. Panda from the west gate of temple . The matter was suppressed by police since it would bring shame to the sevayat community. Besides this a dancer who came from Chennai along with her mother to visit Jagannath temple, few months ago, was forcefully asked for money and was misbehaved and a lady teacher, who came from Bhubaneswar, along with her daughter had to face the same situation there. In 2005 many arms along with bottles of liquor & condemnable things were ceased from the kitchen of the shrine. The incident of a minor girl lifted away from the stairs of the temple and sexually assaulted has still remained fresh in the minds of people. Few years back, a sevayat named S. Senapati molested a lady tourist from Bengal near Garuda Khumba. Such incidents has disgraced the fame of shrine & has raised a feeling of fear in the heart of devotees & tourist. Hare Krishna Mahasuar, Secretary of Sri Jagannath Sevayat Sammilani reacts, in cases of misbehavior to devotees and other criminal activities the temple administration should take strong actions against the person concerned. For the misconduct of few the whole sevayat community has to pay the price.

All though such unlawful activities, deviations & incidents of misconduct are rising day by day, yet both the police as well the temple administration is yet to take any immediate step. Instead of taking strict actions against the accused, they are pleaded for mercy. Such situation has compelled to think whether the sevayats are under the mercy of Lord of the temple or 'Lord Jaganath' is under the mercy of sevayats !