In a shocking incident, a journalist has been brutally assaulted in Puri while he was covering a illegal booth capture by some miscreants during the voting of Odisha Panchayat election. The reporters are from a local news channel and his name has been identified as Sumanta Sundarray and Saroj Mallick.
Along with Sumanta Sundarray and Saroj Mallick, their cameraperson hitan Swain and Rabi Tripathy was also brutally attacked. They have received severe injuries and now being treated at Puri hospital.
As per reports, some miscreants were trying to capture a booth at Badal Panchayat by force during the polling. When the media persons present at the spot tried to capture the visuals of the illegal act, the miscreants turned towards them and assaulted them.
In protest of the attack on the scribes, several journalists staged a dharna in front of Gadisagada police Station demanding immediate action against the perpetrators.
“Assault on journalists while covering the polls is not at all acceptable in a civilised society. It’s an attack on the fourth pillar of democracy. We strongly condemn the incident and demand stringent action against the miscreants,” said a protesting journalist.
Story By- Saayak Karmakar, Resident Editor, Interview Times
Image Source- Google