The event organized by the members of the Balasore Chapter of the MPC College Alumni 1985-90 (Science stream) comprised fun games, talent show for members, kids and spouses and discussion on the future course of action and planning by the core committee members. Prizes were also distributed to the winners in different games at the venue.

Popularly called “Grand Get Together (GGT)”, yesterday’s event was themed “Sagar Kinare” and was a memorable one as friends from all walks of life descended at the venue from all across India and participated as they always wait for the annual extravaganza to happen and make everyone crazy during the entire day. They also went on a sightseeing near the sea beach which is well-known for it’s as the water recedes up to 5 kilometers during the ebb tide.

Biologists also report many peculiar biodiversity and species at Chandipur-on-sea for its unique geo-marine circumstances. Horseshoe crab and fast moving red crabs are also found here on the beach. The small township near Balasore also has a fishing harbor near the confluence of the Budhabalanga river at Balaramgadi.

Chandipur is also known for its Integrated Test Range (ITR) under the Indian Strategic Forces Command’s control at Abdul Kalam Island, which was earlier known as Wheeler Island. A number of Indian missiles have already been tested and launched from the ITR.

The members of the MPC College Alumni 1985-90 (Science stream) also enjoyed the typical sea food and finished it with the much-awaited “mudhi-mansha” (mutton curry with puffed rice) in the typical Baripada style as a remembrance of the golden college days during 1985-90 on the campus of their alma mater Maharaja Purna Chandra College.

All the members present at the GGT-2023 were also given a beautiful token of love representing the unique culture of Balasore of lacquer idol making by renowned lacquer painter and art culture activist Kesu Das.

The accused were identified as IIC of Chandipur police station Ganeswar Pradhan and ASI Bali Mohanty. Pradhan was also in-charge IIC of Marine police station.

The two were trapped by Vigilance officials while demanding and accepting illegal gratification of Rs.50,000 as monthly dole from a licensed IMFL off shop owner, a Vigilance release said.

The accused threatened that they will not allow him to run his business otherwise if he does not pay. The entire bribe money has been recovered from Bali Mohanty and seized.

Following the trap, simultaneous searches are going on at three locations of Pradhan and Mohanty from Disproportionate Assets (DA) angle. A case has been registered and investigation is on.

The aircraft is programmed for a fully autonomous flight, meaning that it flies under the control of automatic systems and needs no intervention from a human pilot.

During the test flight, the aircraft was flown from a ground-based controller to examine its manoeuvrability and performance at low altitudes. The air vehicle was launched using twin under-slung boosters during the demonstration, which provided initial acceleration. It is powered by a small gas turbine engine for endurance flights at high subsonic speed.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO and the Indian armed forces for the successful trial and said that the development of this system woud meet the requirements of aerial targets for the armed forces, a press release stated.

Previously a day earlier on Tuesday the defence research body and the Army also successfully tested an indigenously-developed anti-tank guided missile in Maharashtra.

“In the test, the ATGM hit the bull’s eye with textbook precision and successfully defeated the target at minimum ranges. Telemetry systems recorded the satisfactory flight performance of the missile,” the defence ministry said in a statement.

India also test-fired the Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) in Chandipur last week. The VL-SRSAM is a ship-borne weapon system meant for neutralising various aerial threats at close ranges including sea-skimming targets.

By Nilanchal Naik

The launch was conducted from the Indian Naval Ship, off the coast of Chandipur, Odisha,” ANI quoted the DRDO officials as saying.

According to the DRDO, today’s launch of the system was conducted against a high-speed aerial target mimicking aircraft, which was successfully engaged. This was the second test of the Agni Prime missile.

The test was conducted at 11am off the APJ Abdul Kalam island in balasore.The first test was successfully carried out on June 28 at the same place.

The DRDO said in a statement that the test was carried out by DRDO at 11.06am. The Telemetry, radar, electro-optical stations and downrange ships were positioned along eastern coast which tracked and monitored missile trajectory and parameters. The Missile followed the textbook trajectory and met all mission objectives with high level of accuracy.

Union Defence minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Defence and Research Development Organization (DRDO) for the successful flight test and expressed his happiness over the system’s performance.

“Congratulations to DRDO, Indian Navy & the industry for the successful flight test of Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile off the coast of Chandipur, Odisha. This success will further enhance the defence capability of Indian Naval Ships against the aerial threats (sic),” Singh tweeted.

The ballistic missile weighs 50 per cent less than Agni 3 and can be launched from rail and road and stored for a longer period and transported all across the country as per operational requirements

Nilanchal Naik