The fire of protest was ignited by the killing of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his disciples in an ashram at Jalespeta in Kandhmal district. The fire was visible when number of incidents of attacks on religious places took place across Orissa on Sunday.

On Monday, curfew was ordered by the administration in parts of Kandhmal district, as a dawn-to-dusk Orissa bandh was started by Sangh Parivar. CM Naveen Patnaik appealed to all the communities to maintain peace. Further suspension was passed against Kandhmal SP announcement of judicial action was made for the Saturday’s killings

Bhubaneswar, Aug 24 : In Orissa, five Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) functionaries, including Swami Laxmananda Saraswati, a prominent leader in communally-sensitive Kandhmal District, were killed by unidentified assailants, suspected to be Maoists, late last night when Janmashtami celebrations were on.

Nearly 30 armed people entered the Laxamanananda Ashram in Jalespata under Tumudibandh block and fired indiscriminately, leaving Laxmanananda Saraswati and four others dead.

Immediately after the firing the armed group fled away, official sources said.

Arupananda, Chinmayananda and Mata Bhaktimayee and an unidentified person were the four others dead in the attack.

Mumbai/Bhubaneswar, August 23 : Maharashtra and Orissa on Saturday invited Tata motors to set up its plant in their State for ''Nano'' project that has been in controversy ever since its initiation in Singur (West Bengal), owing to protests over land granted to the motor makers.

Citing the antecedents of the Tatas, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said that the motor makers are always welcome to avail the facilities of the State.

Bhubaneswar, Aug 22 : The delay in implementation of measures announced by Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik might lead to mass resignation by Government doctors on August 27.

Over 2900 doctors working in government hospitals in Orissa have threatened to tender mass resignation on August 27.

The Orissa Medical Service Association (OMSA) president Madhusudan Mishra said, "Nearly 2900 doctors working in government hospitals will resign from their posts to protest against the non-implementation of announcements made by the Chief Minister."

Bhubaneswar-based Orissa Sponge Iron & Steel Ltd has informed that its board of directors has decided to issue 4 million equity share warrants convertible into same number of equity share of Rs 10/- to TRFI Investment Pvt. Ltd. a promoter group Company at a price calculated as per SEBI Guidelines.

Koraput (Orissa), Aug 19 : Outbreak of diarrhoea has spread panic among the villagers in Orissa''s Koraput District.

The outbreak is threatening the lives of the people living in a remote area of the state. The main reason behind the spread of the disease is the lack of clean drinking water and basic sanitation facilities in the area.

Villagers fear that people might fall prey to the outbreak like last year when the disease claimed hundreds of lives during the rainy season.

According to government reports, two persons have reportedly died at Totaguda village of Nandpur block of Koraput District so far.