Attack on journalists during Odisha Panchayat Polls: 11 including 6 women held

Biswajeet Swain Published On : Feb 21, 2022 at 10:18 AM Updated On : Feb 21, 2022 at 4:02 PM

Jajpur: Police have arrested at least 11 persons, including 6 women, over their alleged involvement in attacking journalists at Bachol in Binjharpur area of Odisha’s Jajpur district during panchayat polls yesterday.

The arrested have been identified as prime accused Rakesh Malik, Niranjan Malik, Chandramani Malik, Naba Kishor Malik, Lalatendu Malik, Sabitri Malik, Rina Malik, Kabita Malik, Lipi Malik, Bhanumati Malik and Tikili Malik.

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Police had earlier detained a total of 25 accused in this connection. The other accused were being questioned.

Around 40 miscreants had allegedly attacked three journalists– Debashis Sahoo, Gulshan Ali Nawaz and Bijay Sahoo– while they were covering booth rigging incident in the locality.

The attackers also ransacked the vehicles of the scribes. On being informed, local police rushed to the spot and rescued the journalists.

The injured trio was admitted to the district headquarters hospital.

On the basis of complaints lodged by the victims, Binjharpur police filed three separate cases and picked up 25 persons, including 10 women, for questioning.