The Congress party staged nationwide protests, demanding the immediate arrest and removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The party accused the Election Commission of an "unprecedented attack" on voter equality through an alleged 'Mark VIP' feature and called for an independent review of decisions made under Kumar, citing objections from other commissioners regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
One more person has been arrested in connection with the lynching of a GRP constable in Odisha, bringing the total number of arrests to 18. The incident occurred after the constable was accused of attempted rape following a road accident.
The Odisha government has begun efforts to rescue five migrant workers from Kendrapada district who are reportedly stranded in Thailand. The workers, who travelled on tourist visas but were employed in a plywood company, claim they are being held against their will, denied wages, and subjected to harassment.
Residents of Chandiprasad village in Odisha protest against alleged police torture of a man who refused to identify a body as his missing wife. The state police chief has sought a report on the allegations.
Odisha Police swiftly arrested six individuals involved in a gunpoint robbery in Sundargarh district, recovering the looted cash and other items. The accused had stolen Rs 1.10 lakh from a dispensary-cum-residence before being apprehended through a coordinated police effort.
A 32-year-old daily wage labourer in Odisha's Ganjam district has died allegedly after being tortured in police custody, prompting a high-level investigation.
A daily wage labourer in Odisha has died in police custody, with his family alleging torture and hot water burns. The state police chief has ordered a high-level probe, and staff at the police station have been transferred.
The Odisha Vigilance has arrested Baikuntha Nath Behera, an assistant executive engineer, for possessing disproportionate assets worth crores, including over Rs 2 crore in cash, multiple properties, and gold jewellery. The arrest followed raids that uncovered extensive wealth, with some lockers yet to be opened.
Odisha Police have invoked the stringent National Security Act (NSA) against two habitual criminals in Mayurbhanj district, who are currently in judicial custody. This action was taken due to their extensive criminal records and disregard for law, aiming to prevent further acts prejudicial to public order.
Odisha Police have successfully dismantled a chain snatching racket operating in Khurda district, arresting six individuals. The bust was aided by the force's face recognition system, which identified two suspects during a vehicle check, leading to further arrests and the recovery of stolen gold, cash, and mobile phones.
The three-month long outreach will be closely monitored by senior government officials.
Tanya Chaudhary shattered the women's hammer throw national record with a distance of 68.35m at the Indian Athletics Series Final. Concurrently, Avinash Sable marked a triumphant return to the 3000m steeplechase, winning his first race in over a year. Both athletes are part of India's Asian Games contingent, with Sable also eyeing a 5000m entry. The event saw a lucrative prize fund, highlighting significant performances across various disciplines.
Odisha Police busted a gambling racket in Sundargrah district, arresting 26 people and seizing cash, vehicles, and mobile phones. They also arrested a shop owner involved in IPL betting and are searching for three more suspects.
Odisha Vigilance has seized an additional 703 grams of gold from a bank locker belonging to Baikuntha Nath Behera, an assistant executive engineer, bringing the total recovery to 1.255 kg. Behera was arrested for possessing assets disproportionate to his known income, including over Rs 2 crore in cash, five buildings, 14 plots, and significant deposits.
Odisha Vigilance has seized an additional 703 grams of gold from a bank locker belonging to Baikuntha Nath Behera, an assistant executive engineer, bringing the total recovery to 1.255 kg. Behera was arrested for possessing assets disproportionate to his known income, including over Rs 2 crore in cash, five buildings, 14 plots, and significant deposits.
A 25-year-old man in Odisha's Bhadrak district allegedly murdered his 55-year-old mother with an axe, reportedly due to his suspicion that she practised black magic. Police have detained the accused, who is believed to be mentally disturbed, and are investigating the incident.
The Odisha vigilance department apprehended two government officers on Wednesday for accepting bribes in separate incidents. An Assistant Civil Supplies Officer in Keonjhar district was caught taking Rs 15,000, while a junior engineer with the National Health Mission in Sundargarh was caught taking Rs 5,000.
'We have a very demanding electorate which expects us to do something. So we will have to do something which is a bit out of the ordinary while at the same time keeping in mind the risk factors.'
Three individuals have been detained in Odisha's Dhenkanal district for allegedly electrocuting a wild elephant and burying its carcass on a farmhouse property.
Police in Odisha's Kendrapara district have launched an inquiry into allegations of custodial torture of a woman and her son by personnel of the Talachua Marine Police Station.
A 50-year-old woman, Nandini Dehury, was allegedly beaten to death by her 30-year-old neighbour, Hari Dehury, in Jajpur, Odisha, following a long-standing dispute over homestead land. Police have arrested the accused and are investigating the murder, suspecting property dispute as the motive.
Tanya Chaudhary shattered the women's hammer throw national record with a 68.35m throw at the Indian Athletics Series Final, while Avinash Sable secured an emphatic win in the men's 3000m steeplechase in his first race in over a year. Both athletes, who are part of the Asian Games team, received Rs 1 lakh prize money from the lucrative event. Chaudhary expressed her long-standing pursuit of the record and her focus on technique, while Sable aims to compete in both 3000m steeplechase and 5000m at the Asian Games after recovering from an ACL surgery.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced that the 2026-27 Indian Football League (IFL) season will begin on October 30. Following a successful 2025-26 season with significantly increased viewership, the upcoming season will feature new regulations, including a limit of three foreign players on the pitch, and an expanded footprint with new venues in Nagaland and Odisha. Discussions also covered the IFL Charter, budget, and broadcast partnerships.
BJD MP Santrupt Misra has voiced strong concerns over the Centre's decision to impose a 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, arguing that the government or large financial institutions could easily absorb the costs of maintaining the digital payment network instead of burdening merchants and consumers.
The Congress party has strongly refuted claims by Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance Chairperson Bhartruhari Mahtab that opposition MPs supported levying a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions. Congress MP Manish Tewari termed Mahtab's remarks "erroneous and fallacious," clarifying that the committee's recommendation was to "explore" revenue models, not to implement MDR. The party accused Mahtab of misleading due to his recent switch to the BJP.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has expressed intent to invest an additional $25 billion in India, with an ultimate goal of reaching $100 billion in investments, Union Minister Piyush Goyal announced. This comes as both nations plan to enhance cooperation in shipping, ports, energy, and emerging technologies, against a backdrop of expanding bilateral trade.
A miscreant, Prafulla Mallik alias Pappu, with 25 criminal cases against him, was injured in a gunfight with police in Bhadrak, Odisha, during a raid on his hideout where he was planning a robbery. Three police personnel also sustained minor injuries in the scuffle.
Severed legs of a man were discovered inside the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district. Locals suspect a tiger attack, but forest officials are investigating the cause of death.
Odisha's opposition BJD has requested Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to clarify his family's connection with the Vikas Foundation Trust, which is alleged to have purchased properties in the US. BJP leaders have dismissed the allegations as a smear campaign.
The Indian Coast Guard has launched a major search and rescue operation after a Panama-flagged bulk carrier, MV Ocean Winner, carrying 24 crew members, sank in the Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast. Two survivors have been rescued so far, with three ICG ships and the Indian Navy involved in the ongoing efforts.
Maoist leader Azad alias Dana Keshab Rao has been released after spending over 15 years in jail as an undertrial prisoner, following his acquittal in all 49 cases registered against him in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
'Dara's case can strengthen the perception among sections of the BJP's traditional support base.'
A man and his female friend were allegedly assaulted with sticks by a group of people in Odisha's Berhampur city, triggering outrage after a video of the incident went viral on social media.
An inspector in charge of a police station in Odisha's Cuttack district has been transferred following allegations that a man was tortured by police for refusing to identify a body as that of his missing wife.
Opposition parties in Odisha, BJD and Congress, have criticised Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, accusing him of a surge in police brutality. The allegations stem from a custodial death in Ganjam district and other instances of alleged police misconduct. The BJP has defended the government, stating that prompt action has been taken in response to these cases.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has requested a detailed report from Odisha officials regarding the deaths of six people in a septic tank, raising concerns about human rights violations.
India contributes 31.24 per cent of the global coconut output and 17.90 per cent of the worldwide cultivation area.
A 73-year-old man in Odisha's Jajpur district attempted self-immolation during a public grievance hearing, citing unaddressed appeals for an approach road to his house.
Odisha DGP Yogesh Bahadur Khurania launched 'Juventica', a child welfare police officers outreach programme, aimed at supporting adolescents and encouraging them to focus on educational content on social media for a brighter future. The initiative, in collaboration with UNICEF, seeks to strengthen engagement, awareness, protection, and support for adolescents across the state.
Two individuals have been arrested in Odisha's Gahirmatha forest range after being found in possession of nine kg of venison. The suspects were apprehended in the Sasanpeta forest area with deer meat and nylon nets, leading to their booking under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
