Now it’s a direct challenge to Orissa govt.

Thousands of Hindus have warned that they would observe Orissa bandh on coming Christmas Day if the state government failed to arrest the killers of the VHP leader by December 15.

Despite a heavy downpour on Saturday morning, more than 50 thousands of Hindus from across Orissa gathered in Bhubaneswar for a rally called by Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati Shradhanjali Samiti.

New Delhi, Nov 15 : Hundreds of people marched in New Delhi on Saturday to protest against a plant being built by South Korean steel maker POSCO in Orissa.

Activists belonging to anti-POSCO groups - POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti - PPSS, POSCO Pratirodh Solidarity and All India students Federation held placards and banners to pursue central government about the drawbacks of the project.

Anti-POSCO project activists have come to New Delhi to raise their voice against the project and also to demand release of at least three anti-POSCO leaders arrested in Orissa last month.

At least 17 workers were killed and dozens injured when a mound of earth collapsed on them.

The incident happened in Sukinda mining area of Jajpur district while they were extracting laterite from a quarry.

"A group of workers had gone to a quarry to extract laterite in a mining area located under Sukinda police station. A portion of the quarry suddenly collapsed on them," District Superintendent of Police D.S. Kutey said.

The exact number of workers at the open laterite mine in Jajpur district, about 150 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, was not known, Kuttey said.

The district administration fears that there could be two or three more people stuck under the debris.

At least six workers were killed and several others injured Friday in an open pit mine in Orissa’s Jajpur district when a mound of earth collapsed on them.

“A group of workers had gone to a quarry to extract laterite in a mining area located under Sukinda police station. A heap of earth suddenly collapsed on them,” police SP of the district told.

Six bodies have been recovered from the debris as the fire brigade launched a rescue operation with the help of local residents

A 65-year-old Australian doctor, working as a volunteer in an orphanage in Puri of Orissa, has been arrested for allegedly sexually abusing children.
Allen was working as a volunteer at an orphanage run by the Mary Ellen Gerber Foundation.

The arrest was made after the orphanage's founder, a French national Mary Gerber, lodged a criminal complaint to police.

Allen was picked up from Vishakapatam, Andhra Pradesh, where he had gone absconding since November 5, the day Mary Ellen had lodged a complaint.

“The medical examinations were conducted. He is totally involved in this crime. After the examination, he was produced before the court. Now he is remanded to judicial custody,” said a senior police officer of Orissa.

Puri (Orissa), Nov. 14 : Police in Orissa''s coastal city of Puri have arrested an Australian doctor for allegedly assaulting minor boys in an orphanage.

Paul Allen, an Australian volunteer working in an orphanage run by France''s Mary Ellen Berger, was accused of abusing orphans aged between 13-17 years.

Allen was picked up from Vishakapatam, Andhra Pradesh, where he had gone absconding since November 5, the day Mary Ellen had lodged a complaint.