Cops assault on scribe: Odisha DGP seeks report

Puri: A day after a journalist and a fruit seller were allegedly assaulted by police personnel on Bada Danda (Grand Road) here leading to a scuffle between shopkeepers and the cops, DGP Abhay today directed the district SP to personally investigate the incident and submit  report forthwith.

Action will be taken on the basis of the report, said DGP Abhay.

A high voltage drama unfolded near the bus deport on Bada Danda here yesterday after some fruit and vegetable vendors were restrained by police personnel, who were on COVID-19 enforcement duty.  While the cops claimed that the vendors were flouting the guidelines, the latter alleged police excesses.

In the meantime, journalist Dattatreya Nayak, who works with a leading vernacular daily, was beaten up by the cops when he intervened and started taking pictures of the incident. Nayak and a fruit seller suffered minor injuries during the face-off.