Balasore: The Kriyanusthan Committee is observing a 12-hour bandh on Wednesday in Nilagiri in Odisha’s Balasore district demanding justice for journalist Lokanath Dalei.
On April 7, Dalei was assaulted and then cuffed to a hospital bed by police during treatment, sparking outrage across the country.
The protesters demanded withdrawal of a “false” case against Dalei, suspension and arrest of Nilagiri police station IIC Draupadi Das and SI Subarna Behera, and Rs 5 lakh compensation for the journalist.
Hundreds of vehicles were stranded after the protesters, holding banners and placards, blocked the National Highway here. Educational institutions and emergency services have been excluded from the bandh.
Das and Behera, whose roles are being probed in the case, have been transferred to the Police District Headquarters. A havildar has been suspended following orders from Odisha DGP Sunil Bansal.
Das allegedly ordered cuffing 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 for allegedly abusing and assaulting a Home Guard.
