Four Arrested For Assaulting Journalist In Odisha’s Bolangir
A video which has gone viral on social media shows the culprits repeatedly kicking the scribe on the face.
Bhubaneswar: In a disturbing incident that has sparked outrage among the media fraternity, Odisha Police on Monday arrested four persons, including a juvenile, for allegedly assaulting a journalist in Bolangir district.
According to police sources, the incident occurred on Saturday in Kulthipali village under Puintala police limits when Bijay Pradhan, a local journalist, had gone to the area to report on alleged irregularities in the construction of a guard wall under a government scheme.
Eyewitnesses and police officials stated that while Pradhan was collecting information and taking photographs, a group of men confronted him. The accused allegedly snatched his mobile phone, microphone (boom), and other reporting equipment. In a brazen display of violence, they tied his hands and physically assaulted him in full public view.
A video of the assault was recorded by onlookers and widely circulated on social media platforms, drawing widespread condemnation and raising serious concerns over the safety of journalists working at the grassroots level. The video shows the culprits repeatedly kicking the journalist in the face.
Acting on Pradhan’s complaint filed at the Puintala police station and the viral video evidence, Bolangir police registered a case and arrested four accused within 48 hours.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Abhinash Dalai, Aditya Jena, Gumara Nayak, and a minor boy whose identity has been withheld as per legal provisions.
“We have taken this matter very seriously. Based on preliminary investigation, we suspect that the contractor involved in the guard wall construction may have played a role in instigating the assault. His involvement is being thoroughly probed, and he will be arrested if found guilty,” said Bolangir Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhilash G while addressing the media.
The incident has drawn sharp reactions from journalist associations across Odisha, including Odisha Union of Journalists. Several social organisations also condemned the attack and demanded strict action against all those involved, including the contractor allegedly linked to the crime.
They also urged the state government to ensure the safety and security of journalists performing their duties, particularly in rural and remote areas, where media persons often work under challenging and sometimes hostile conditions.
