3 Odisha journalists arrested for threatening BEO

Berhampur: The Buguda police have arrested three journalists for allegedly threatening and trying to extort money from a Block Education Officer in Odisha’s Ganjam district.

The accused have been identified as reporters Alok Gouda of OTV, Manoj Kumar Ghadai of Bada Khabar, and Kalia Padhi of Prameya. They have been booked under Sections 353, 385, 506, 507, and 34 of the IPC.

As per the FIR lodged by Buguda BEO Rasananda Kar, the three reporters came to his office on October 16 when he was monitoring school cleanliness of Takarada cluster. The trio started reporting regarding the absence of the BEO at the office without communicating the official.

On being informed by the staffers about the incident, the BEO reached the office and discussed the matter with the three reporters. Later, they demanded Rs 50,000 from Kar by threatening him to report negative news regarding him, the BEO alleged.

Also read- Six Odisha Journalists Arrested On Extortion Charges.