Odisha: Three students of Utkal University arrested for attacking journalist

Bhubaneswar: The Commissionerate Police today arrested three students for attacking a journalist inside a cinema hall in Odisha capital on Saturday afternoon.

All the three arrested — Soumya Ranjan, Ananta Samantaray and Subrat Biswal (Chinu) are students of Law College of Utkal University, police said, adding other accused will be arrested soon.

The arrests were made after the police drew flak from several quarters, especially journalist associations staging protests in the city demanding “security” for working journalists across the State.

“Stringent action would be taken against the accused as per the law,” said State DGP R P Sharma.

Also Read: Odisha: Journalist beaten up inside cinema hall for opposing lewd remarks

Notably, Kapilendra Pradhan, a journalist of an Odia daily was allegedly attacked inside Maharaja Cinema hall for opposing a group of Utkal University students who were passing vulgar comments on women.

Pradhan had sustained multiple injuries in the attack and was admitted to Capital Hospital but discharged after primary treatment on the same day.

Following this, he had lodged a complaint in Saheed Nagar police station demanding immediate arrest of the accused.