Puri: Police have arrested eight persons in connection with the attack on journalists who were covering polling during the first phase of the panchayat polls at Badala gram panchayat in Puri district on Wednesday.
The accused were identified as Bijay Swain (30) alias Bulla, Subash Majhi (36), Satyapriya Maharana (40), Uttam Bhujbal (21), Ajay Barisal (38), Nikunj Swain (57), Brajbandhu Swain (60) and Bidyadhar Swain (40). All are from Badala village.
Four journalists from two electronic media organisations who were covering the polls at a booth in Badala gram panchayat in Kanas block on Wednesday were allegedly attacked by the accused. A video of the incident had gone viral.
According to reports, the accused were trying to disrupt the polling process. The journalists were allegedly attacked for recording the incident.
Gadisagada police seized a mobile phone, two boom mics, wire bundles and a live telecast device from them, among other items.
A special team has been constituted under Puri Additional SP Purnachandra Pradhan and Sadar SDPO Kishore Mund to probe the case.
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