Bhubaneswar, Feb 7 (IANS) Nearly 100 journalists staged a demonstration here Monday to protest the alleged attack by a ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and his supporters on a reporter of a vernacular daily.
Expressing their concern over the increasing attacks on their colleagues in the state, the journalists, gathered under the banner of ‘Media Unity for Freedom’, demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.
The reporter of Sambad, Rajat Ranjan Dash, said he was attacked and severely beaten up by the chairperson of an urban civic body and his supporters at Pipili in the district of Puri, about 20 km from Bhubaneswar, Feb 4.
Dash, who sustained multiple injuries on his head, hands and chest, said he became a target after writing reports on large scale corruption in the area.
The victim said the attackers also looted cash worth Rs 12,500, a gold chain and three mobile sets from him. Besides the attackers also stripped him and forced him to walk naked on the street.
He said some local residents however managed to rescue him and admitted him to a hospital. ‘We are shocked that the persons involved in this crime have not yet been arrested,’ Prasant Patnaik,one of the protestors said.
‘We have decided to submit a petition to Governor M.C.Bhandare soon. Besides we will intensify our protest,’ he said.
