A special vigilance court in Balangir has sentenced two forest officials, former DFO Pranab Kumar Mohanty and former Deputy Range Officer Chitta Ranjan Dehury, to three years in prison for accepting a bribe of Rs 1.66 lakh in 2020. The bribe was taken to release funds for the repair of kendu leaf warehouses. In addition to the prison term and fines, the vigilance department is taking steps to stop their pensions following the conviction. https://odishasambad.in/former-odisha-dfo-another-get-3-year-jail-term-for-bribery/

The ADJ Court of Bhanjanagar has acquitted Ami Sahu, the younger sister-in-law, in the 2021 murder case of Sangita Sahu due to lack of evidence. Sangita died in June 2021 after being set on fire in Binjigiri village. Following the mother's complaint, Ami was arrested in July 2021. After spending time in jail, the court finally cleared her of all charges on Monday. https://www.dharitri.com/bada-ja-murder-case-san-ja-acquitted/

On the upcoming 80th Independence Day, for the first time, the national song 'Vande Mataram' will be sung at the Red Fort. Defense Secretary R.K. Singh announced that the celebration will focus on the contribution of youth towards building a developed India by 2047. The song 'Vande Mataram' is also entering its 150th year. PM Modi will lead the ceremony, where the singing of Vande Mataram will precede the flag hoisting and the national address. https://www.dharitri.com/this-will-be-the-first-time-this-will-happen-at-the-red-fort-on-independence-day-government-announces/

In a bizarre incident in Jharsuguda district, Odisha, a man named Dharamsingh Khadia bit a cobra to death after accidentally stepping on it. Believing a superstition shared by a local tantric that biting a snake back neutralizes its venom, he grabbed the hooded snake and bit its head. The snake died instantly, while the man fell ill and was rushed to Govindpur hospital. Doctors have kept him under 24-hour observation and confirmed his condition is stable. The incident highlights the dangers of deep-rooted superstitions regarding snake bites in rural areas. https://odia.news18.com/news/odisha/cobra-snake-died-on-spot-in-jharsuguda-after-man-bites-the-snake-dkp-ws-l-404148.html

The Odisha government has released the official list of dignitaries for the 78th Independence Day flag hoisting ceremony. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will lead the state-level celebration in Bhubaneswar. Deputy CMs and other cabinet ministers have been assigned various districts, while District Collectors and RDCs will hoist the flag in other designated locations. https://www.dharitri.com/state-independence-day-know-who-will-hoist-the-flag-where/

Police have arrested a fake IAS officer named Manish Gupta in Bihar, who claimed to be a secret agent of National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval. The accused was using a Tesla car with a 'Government of India' board to travel across Bihar and defraud people. During a raid at his Jamalpur residence, police seized a Tesla car, a Tata Safari, imported liquor, multiple mobile phones, and bank cards. Khagaria SP Bhanu Pratap Singh confirmed that Gupta was involved in large-scale cheating by impersonating a high-ranking official. https://www.dharitri.com/fake-ias-officer-arrested/

More than 160 people were bitten by stray dogs within 24 hours in Kalyan, Maharashtra. An 11-year-old girl was seriously injured and shifted to a Mumbai hospital for treatment. A single stray dog reportedly attacked over 60 people near Birla College Road in Kalyan West. The incidents, occurring from Sunday afternoon to Monday, have sparked widespread panic across various housing societies and streets in the city. https://sambad.in/india-and-beyond/dog-bite-in-kalyan-12248829

During a student protest against recruitment exam irregularities in Jharkhand, JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto was hospitalized. After participating in the assembly gherao while on an indefinite hunger strike for 9 days, his health worsened due to a police lathi charge and low blood sugar levels. He is currently receiving emergency treatment at Ranchi Sadar Hospital. https://sambad.in/india-and-beyond/debendranath-admitted-in-hospital-12248837

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing to deploy an additional 500,000 troops as the conflict intensifies. Citing intelligence reports, Zelenskyy suggested this mobilization might begin after the State Duma elections on September 21. Meanwhile, Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned that Putin might resort to nuclear weapons as a 'last resort' if Russia's existence is threatened. The conflict continues to escalate with heavy drone and artillery strikes from both sides, resulting in civilian casualties in Russia's Tatarstan and Ukraine's Kharkiv regions. https://sambad.in/india-and-beyond/putin-may-deploy-500000-new-troops-zelensky-warns-12248628

The 7th State Inter-School Table Tennis Championship concluded its individual categories in Cuttack. Winners include Shweta Verma (Junior Girls), Ayushman Pati (Junior Boys), Urja Verma (Senior Girls), and Somnath Soumyaranjan Subudhi (Senior Boys). The event, organized by the Odisha Table Tennis Association and Young Generation Table Tennis Association, also marked the start of the State Ranking Table Tennis tournament. https://sambad.in/sports/state-inter-school-table-tennis-12248946