Bhubaneswar: Universities are meant to be sanctuaries of learning, debate, and intellectual freedom. Yet, they are also institutions that must ensure safety, discipline, and order. Utkal University’s newly announced stringent campus guidelines reflect this delicate balancing act—tilting firmly toward control in the name of security and academic focus. The mandatory carrying of identity cards and…
Bhubaneswar: A powerful explosion during the illegal assembly of a crude bomb in Sundarpada area of Bhubaneswar claimed the lives of Shahnawaz Malik (26) and his mother Lizatun Bibi (51), while three others sustained critical injuries, police said. Malik, described as a repeat offender with prior explosives-related charges, was allegedly assembling the device at his…
Bhubaneswar: The latest annual report of the Odisha State Commission for Women, revealing 2,064 cases of crimes and grievances against women in 2024–25, is both a statistical snapshot and a moral indictment. That Bhubaneswar alone accounts for 298 cases, followed by Cuttack and Khordha, should compel policymakers and society to confront an uncomfortable truth: urban…
Bhubaneswar: A bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi has been stolen from the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville, a suburb of Melbourne, triggering concern among the Indian diaspora and authorities. The statue, which held significant cultural and symbolic value, was gifted by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi, and was unveiled on…
Bhubaneswar: The Calcutta High Court on January 27 directed the West Bengal government to hand over land already acquired for Indo-Bangladesh border fencing to the Border Security Force (BSF) by March 31, 2026, asserting that national security cannot be subordinated to electoral or administrative delays. The order was passed by a division bench headed by…
Bhubaneswar: Five people were killed on Tuesday morning after a small aircraft crash-landed and caught fire while en route from Mumbai to Baramati, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed. The incident occurred at around 8:45 am, when the plane broke apart after coming down in a field and burst into flames. According to…
Bhubaneswar: Mumbai Police on Friday night arrested actor and film critic Kamaal Rashid Khan in connection with an incident in which shots were fired outside a residential building in Lokhandwala earlier this month. The firing incident occurred on January 18 at Nalanda Society, prompting an investigation after residents reported bullet marks on the building. According…
Bhubaneswar: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has offered to host all of Bangladesh’s matches in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) raised security concerns about playing in India. According to a PCB source quoted by PTI, the Pakistan board conveyed through an email that Bangladesh’s concerns were justified and…
Bhubaneswar: A devastating fire broke out in the early hours at No. 1 Haat’s Plastic Market in Bhubaneswar, destroying more than 40 shops and causing extensive property damage estimated at several lakhs. The blaze erupted around 1:38 am, spreading rapidly through the congested market area. The fire escalated quickly, fueled by the market’s extensive use…
Bhubaneswar: The Karnataka Home Department on Saturday granted permission to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to resume hosting international and Indian Premier League (IPL) matches at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, marking a significant step toward the venue’s return to high-profile cricket. In a statement, the KSCA said the approval is subject to strict compliance…