Journalist Chained in Odisha: OHRC Takes Suo Motu Cognizance, IG Terms It Unfortunate, Editors Guild Shocked

Balasore: A day after a journalist was chained to his hospital bed by police while undergoing treatment here, the havildar in-charge of the police custody party has been suspended following orders from Odisha DGP Sunil Bansal.

Taking suo motu cognizance of the matter, the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has directed IG (Eastern Range) to submit a report within 15 days after a thorough probe into the circumstances that led to the incident.

Balasore SP on Friday informed that departmental action has been initiated against those responsible for the incident. The SP, however, did not give further details.

Inspector-General of Police (Central Range) Narasingha Bhol termed the incident unfortunate and illegal. “The matter has been taken very seriously. A DSP is heading the probe. One havildar has been placed under suspension. If need be, action will be taken against IIC on basis of the probe,” he was quoted as saying by a news portal.

The president of the district human rights board has also reached Nilagiri to inquire into the incident.

The Editors Guild of India said it was shocked by the manner in which police arrested, stripped and humiliated a local journalist in Sidhi, MP, as well as chained another journalist in Balasore, Odisha. It urged the Home Ministry to act immediately and take strict action.

Lokanath Dalei, the journalist who was chained to a hospital bed in Balasore, works for a local news channel. He was later released after the incident received widespread condemnation from journalists, politicians and all sections of society.

According to reports, Nilagiri police station IIC Draupadi Das had ordered legcuffing the journalist to the hospital bed. Dalei was hospitalised after being allegedly assaulted by the IIC of Nilagiri police station, where he was reportedly called in connection with a case of abusing and assaulting a Home Guard.

Questions have been raised as to why no action was taken against the IIC and only a havildar was suspended.

Also read: https://odishabytes.com/shocking-journalist-legcuffed-to-hospital-bed-in-odishas-balasore/