A special audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has revealed that Odisha's forest and environment department sidestepped central guidelines, procuring and customising Mahindra Thar SUVs worth 17 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for forest protection, despite the funds being earmarked for 'preparedness and capacity building'.
A leopard was found dead in the Kathagochi Reserve Forest in Odisha's Balasore district, prompting an investigation by forest officials and veterinary doctors.
Odisha forest officials arrested three individuals in Ganjam district for allegedly killing a spotted deer. The accused, residents of Khapraganda, are suspected of killing the deer to sell its meat after it wandered into their village from a nearby forest.
A man has been arrested for allegedly setting fire inside the Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha, India.
Over the past three years, Odisha has witnessed a surge in human-animal conflict, resulting in hundreds of fatalities and thousands of injuries due to attacks by wild animals, including elephants. The state government is grappling with the increasing crisis, with specific forest divisions reporting higher numbers of deaths and injuries.
Forest officials seized 20 kg of venison and arrested a person for wildlife poaching in Bhitarkanika National Park, Odisha. The accused was found with deer meat and nylon nets used for trapping deer.
A wild elephant died in Odisha's Kandhamal district after consuming a suspected explosive substance. Forest officials are investigating the incident, which occurred in the Belghar forest range.
Two individuals wanted in connection with a murder case sustained gunshot wounds during an exchange of fire with police in Odisha's Jharsuguda district. The encounter occurred near Karlakhaman Government School in the Saguan forest area. The injured suspects have been identified as Sunil Mahananda and Chand Banchhor, who were allegedly involved in the murder of a man in the Belpahar police station area.
Police in Odisha have recovered the decomposed body of a real estate businessman who was allegedly kidnapped for ransom a week ago. The victim, Sudhir Patra, was abducted on April 15, and a ransom of Rs 2 crore was demanded. Police suspect he was killed shortly after the kidnapping.
Delhi Police have dismantled an interstate narcotics syndicate with the arrest of a key supplier from Odisha. The arrest follows an investigation into previous drug seizures in Delhi.
Ten marine fishermen were arrested for illegally fishing in the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, a protected turtle congregation zone in Odisha's Kendrapara district. Their fishing trawler was also seized, and they were remanded to judicial custody.
Police discovered the burnt body of a young woman in the Bankata forest of East Singhbhum district, Jharkhand, near the Odisha border. Investigations are underway to identify the victim and determine the circumstances of her death.
Police in Odisha's Ganjam district have arrested nine people, including family members, in connection with the abduction and murder of a real estate businessman. The arrests followed the discovery of the victim's body near Gopalpur. Property disputes are believed to be the motive.
Police in Odisha's Koraput district seized hashish oil worth approximately 225 crore from a forest manufacturing unit. Over 1,800 litres of hashish oil were recovered, and equipment was confiscated. In a separate operation, 1,143 kg of ganja worth 5 crore was seized, leading to four arrests.
Odisha Police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate an illegal hashish oil trade operating from an island in Koraput district, following a major drug seizure and multiple arrests.
Odisha Police intensifies operations in Kandhamal district after neutralizing four Maoists, including a high-value target. Combing operations are underway to apprehend more ultras.
A five-year-old boy spent a night in a forest guarding his dead father and unconscious mother after they consumed pesticide. The incident occurred in Odisha's Deogarh district.
The BJP achieved a clean sweep in nine districts of West Bengal, securing all 68 seats in these regions during the recent election. This victory marks a significant shift in the state's political landscape, ending the Trinamool Congress's 15-year rule and establishing the BJP's dominance.
A wanted Maoist leader allegedly killed his commander for planning to surrender to the Odisha Police, revealing internal conflicts within the group.
Delhi Police have arrested six members of a Bangladesh-based dacoit gang following a midnight encounter. The gang is accused of violent robberies and murders across multiple states, fleeing to Bangladesh between crimes.
As the March 31 deadline arrives, a wave of Maoist surrenders suggests insurgency's end, but political and social concerns remain.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accused the Mamata Banerjee government of favouring infiltrators over the native population, asserting that the upcoming assembly election in West Bengal is a battle to save the state's identity.
After more than four decades, Chhattisgarh's Bastar region has been declared free of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), marking the end of the armed Maoist rebellion in the area. The decline is attributed to sustained security operations, improved governance, and socio-economic development initiatives.
Fifteen Naxalites, including a veteran ultra with a significant bounty, surrendered in Chhattisgarh, effectively dismantling the Maoist movement in the Raipur-Sambalpur region.
A senior Maoist commander, Papa Rao, surrendered with his team in Chhattisgarh, signalling a significant blow to Left-Wing Extremism in the region. This event underscores the impact of sustained security pressure and rehabilitation efforts on the Maoist movement.
Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee has warned of a significant increase in cooking gas and fuel prices by the BJP-led central government following the West Bengal assembly elections. He accused the BJP of neglecting the fuel crisis and challenged them to pledge no price hikes for the next five years.
Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee alleges the BJP-led government may increase fuel prices after the West Bengal assembly elections, accusing them of neglecting the common man and withholding funds from the state.
Sixteen Maoists, including top leader Anal, were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district on Thursday, Union home minister Amit Shah said.
Top Maoist leader Ganesh Uike and five other red rebels were killed in gun battles with security forces in Odisha's Kandhamal district.
The crash took place shortly after the aircraft operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd took off from Ranchi airport at 7.11 pm.
Among Indian states, Assam tops the list of elephant fatalities caused by train accidents, followed by Odisha, where 16 elephants were killed on railway tracks.
'They are not abandoning their ideology. They now believe it is better to pursue their goals through the Constitution rather than from the barrel of a gun -- even if the ideology itself remains intact.'
When elephants are identified close to or on the tracks, real-time alerts are sent to locomotive pilots, station masters and control rooms, allowing trains to slow down or stop in time.
'From every point of view, they have faced an extremely difficult couple of years, and the setback they have suffered is irreversible.' 'This reality has begun to set in even amongst the top-level cadres. That is why, in recent times, we have witnessed a huge number of senior-level cadres emerging from the jungle and deciding to renounce violence and join the mainstream.'
The Natural History Museum, London, has officially unveiled the 24-image shortlist for the 2026 Nuveen People's Choice Award. This prestigious contest, a key part of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition and supported by lead sponsor Nuveen, invites the public to decide which image will be crowned the winner.
Seven more Maoists were killed in an exchange of fire with police in Andhra Pradesh, a day after six Maoists were gunned down in the same area. The operation took place in Maredumilli, Alluri Sitaramaraju district. One of the deceased was identified as Meturi Jokha Rao alias Tech Shankar, a key figure in the Maoist movement.
How a Legendary Commando's Downfall Began with a Simple Meal: The Tale of Bajrang Singh's Capture.
Top Naxalite commander Madvi Hidma, who had masterminded several attacks over the last two decades, was killed in an encounter in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, a breakthrough Chhattisgarh Police described as the 'last nail in the coffin' of the insurgency.
'The (Maoist) organisation is in visible decline. Their senior leaders are ageing. Forest life is unforgiving -- older leaders simply cannot cope physically.' 'Earlier, they attracted educated youth from cities. That stream has dried up. Today's recruits largely come from poor village backgrounds and lack ideological depth.'
The West Bengal Police on Tuesday afternoon reconstructed the crime scene with the five accused and the friend of the Durgapur gangrape victim, as part of the investigation, a senior officer said.
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