Balasore (Orissa), Feb. 7 : India on Sunday successfully test-fired and launched the long-range Agni-3 missile from an interim testing rangehere.

The missile, which has a range capability of 3500-kilometers, was flight tested by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at 10:50 a. m. from Wheeler Island in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Orissa.

The missile hit its target with pinpoint accuracy and met all the mission objectives. Two down range ships located near the target tracked and witnessed the missile reaching its target accurately.

Bhubaneshwar, Feb. 7 : Elders and leaders of various tribes in Orissa’s Kandhamal District have voiced suspicious about a European Union (EU) delegation visiting their region saying it would hamper peace and re-ignite violence.

The 11-member EU delegation visited Kandhamal region on Wednesday.

The delegation held discussions with Orissa Government officials Christian leaders and human rights activists in Bhubaneswar.

Addressing the media here, the tribal leaders recalled that Kandhamal was rocked by communal violence in mid-2008, sparked off by the murder of a senior Hindu leader.

As the nation was debating the fallout of a weak monsoon last November, farmers in Kudanali, a hilly, forested village in Orissa’s Sambalpur district, were busy watering their fields and plucking weeds.

The farmers, were, however, not cultivating the staple paddy.

They were growing ganja, or cannabis, in their backyards, near nullahs and in the forests.

“This is the crop we’ve been growing for the last 10 years. It is the source of our livelihood,” said Sambhu Majhi, 51, of Kudanali village, 350 km west of Bhubaneswar.

Bhubaneswar, Jan 11 : India on Monday successfully test fired two indigenously built air-to-air missile ''Astra'' from its Integrated Test Range (ITR) off the Orissa coast.

The first missile, around 25-kilometer range was tested at the Chandipur test range around 9:45 a. m.

ITR Director SP Shah claimed the missile test was a success.

The Astra missile is 3.8 meter long having a diameter of 1.78 meter and weighs around 154 kilograms. The missile can carry a warhead of 15 kg.

Bhubaneswar, Jan 11 :  At least six people were injured in a blast at the state-run Rourkela Steel Plant in Orissa's Sundergarh district Monday, an official said.

"There was blast inside the spiral welding plant when some of our workers were undertaking welding work, when a box burst, injuring six people," Deputy General Manager (Public Relations) Rehman Khan said.

All the injured were admitted to the Ispat General Hospital in Rourkela, 514 km from the state capital.

Bhubaneshwar, Jan 11 : The banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) cadres killed two local traders in Katulpeta village in Korapat District of Orissa on Monday late evening.

The Katulpeta village is about 450 kilometres from state capital Bhubaneswar.

The villages are under Bandhugaon police station area.

Orissa Deputy Inspector General Sanjeeb Panda informed that two local traders were killed by suspected Maoists and the police are gathering details of the crime.

Bhubaneswar, Jan 11 : National Knowledge Commission chairperson Sam Pitroda will deliver a lecture at Orissa's prestigious Ravenshaw University Jan 16, the university said Monday.

He will deliver the third lecture of a series in an open air stage inside the university campus at Cuttack, about 25 km from here.

The first lecture was delivered by British economist and Labour politician Lord Meghnad Desai in 2008, followed by former Indian Army chief General Shankar Roychowdhury in 2009. (IANS)

Balasore (Orissa), Jan 11 - India Monday successfully test fired the Astra air-to-air missile from its Integrated Test Range (ITR) off the Orissa coast.

The beyond visual range air-to-air missile was tested at the Chandipur test range at about 9.45 a. m.

"The test was a success," S. P. Dash, director of the ITR, told IANS.

Another Astra missile is scheduled to be tested from the same test range later in the day, he added. (IANS)

Bhubaneswar, Jan 11 - Suspected Maoist guerrillas killed two local traders in a village in Orissa's Koraput district early Monday, police said.

The incident took place in Katulpeta village under Bandhugaon police station area, about 450 km from state capital Bhubaneswar.

"Two local traders were killed by suspected Maoists. We are gathering details of the crime," Deputy Inspector General of Police Sanjeeb Panda told IANS.

Maoists are active in more than half of the state's 30 districts. The southern district of Koraput is considered a Maoist stronghold. (IANS)

Bhubaneswar, Jan 10 - At least six people, including four women, were killed Sunday and six others critically injured after a wagon carrying them hit an iron ore- laden truck in Orissa's Keonjhar district, police said.

The accident took place near Balijodi village in Keonjhar, some 180 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, when the passengers were on their way to a pilgrimage site for picnic, a senior district police officer told IANS.

The injured were being treated in a local hospital, he said. (IANS)

Bhubaneswar, Jan 9 : A Maoist camp was busted in Orissa's Deogarh district Saturday and ammunition, rebel literature and other items were seized, police said.

The camp, located inside the forest under Kansar police outpost, some 350 km from here, was spotted by the Special Operations Group of the state police during a combing operation, Inspector General of Police (Operations) Sanjeeb Marik told IANS.

"Some live bullets, Maoist literature and some aluminium utensils have been seized from the spot," he said without giving any more details.

"Combing operations are on in the area," Marik added.(IANS)

Bhubaneswar, Jan 9 : Folk dances, classical music, dramas and a series of other performances by artists from across the country enthralled a huge crowd on the second day of the National Youth Festival here Saturday.

Competitions in various instrumental, classical and other events to select the best talent of the country were held in different theatres and open stages throughout the day.

The performances that thrilled the spectators include Bharatnatyam, Manipuri dance and the Rock Band dance.

Unprecedented gathering were observed at Kalinga stadium, the main venue of the festival in the evening to see the performance of Punjabi singer Hans Raj Hans.

Bhubaneswar, Jan 9 - Orissa Saturday witnessed a steep rise in temperature due to cloudy weather conditions and increase in the moisture content in the atmosphere, official said.

"The minimum temperature shot up in most parts of the state due to cloudy weather and increase in the moisture content in the atmosphere," an official of the Bhubaneswar meteorological centre told IANS.

The meteorological centre had been issuing cold wave warningS for the past one week after the minimum temperature had dipped to four degree at some places.

Bhubaneswar, Jan 9 - Orissa's Puri beach, which attracts thousands of visitors every year, is turning out to be a death trap for tourists. Over 50 tourists have drowned off the beach in the last three years, official data says.

Police records say 27 people died due to drowning last year. There were 17 in 2008 and eight in 2007.

The increasing number of deaths off the beach has raised concerns among tourists and tour operators alike.

Bhubaneswar, Jan 8 : A day after steel billionaire L. N. Mittal expressed unhappiness over the delay in his Indian projects, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday said Mittal's project in the state was very much on track.

"Mittal's project is very much on the track. The project will certainly come up in the state. We have not received any negative message from the Mittals," he said.

The state government has also clarified that the proposed Mittal project would not be shifting to Karnataka.

Bhubaneswar, Jan 8 : State-run National Aluminium Company (NALCO) plans to form three subsidiaries to boost its business diversification aims, a senior company official said Friday.

The subsidiaries may be formed depending upon the progress of the various projects such as metals and power generation the company has planned, Finance Director B. L. Bagra told IANS.

"This may happen earliest within two years or can take five years," he said.

Bhubaneswar, Jan 8, : A total of seven people including three Nigerian nationals have been arrested for allegedly siphoning money from 18 ATMs in Orissa's Balasore district, police said Friday.

According to police, the seven took out money amounting to Rs. 2.47 crore from ATMs of various nationalised and private banks in the district, taking advantage of "procedural loopholes".

Bhubaneswar, Jan 8 : Artists from across the country enthralled a huge crowd with diverse forms of classical and folk dances on the opening day of the National Youth Festival in Bhubaneswar Friday. An Indian Air Force helicopter showering flower petals over the main festival venue thrilled the audience.

The five-day 15th edition of National Youth Festival began with a group of artists performing lively traditional state folk dance. Later, artists from various parts of the country performed.

Bhubaneswar, Jan 8 : Union Minister for Youth Affairs Dr. MS Gill is expected to inaugurate the fifteenth National Youth Festival that begins at the Kalinga Stadium here on Friday.

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Pratik Prakashbapu Patil will be present at the inaugural ceremony.

Around 5,000 delegates from across the country are expected to take part in this five-day festival showcasing India''s rich and multi-faceted culture.

Bhubaneswar, Jan 8 - The cold wave continued to grip some parts of Orissa Friday with the minimum temperature falling below eight degrees Celsius, a met official said.

"The temperature dipped in several places. Bolangir town (in Bolangir district) recorded the day's lowest temperature of 7.3 degree Celsius," the official said.

The places where the temperature was below eight degrees were Phulbani (7.4 degrees), Sundergarh (7.4 degrees) and Sambalpur (7.9 degrees).