Odisha Panchayat Polls: Main Accused, 6 Women Among 11 Arrested For Attack On Journalists In Jajpur

Jajpur: The main accused in the case in which three journalists were assaulted in Odisha’s Jajpur district while covering the polls during the third phase of the panchayat elections on Sunday has been arrested, SP Rahul PR said, according to reports.

He was identified as Rakesh Mullick.

Police have arrested 11 persons, including six women, so far.

Police on Sunday detained 25 people, including women, in connection with the assault. More arrests are likely, the SP said.

The journalists were thrashed while covering an alleged rigging attempt at two booths in Bachol panchayat under Binjharpur block.

The journalists, identified as Debashis Sahoo, Gulshan Ali Nawaz and Bijay Sahoo, reached the booths following reports that miscreants had decamped with ballot boxes and thrown them at a nearby pond.

However, they were intercepted by a mob, which tied them up and assaulted them brutally. They also damaged their vehicle by pelting it with stones. Police later rescued the injured journalists and sent them to Binjharpur CHC for treatment.

Odisha Sambad reporter Himansu Padhi was also beaten up in the attack on the scribes in Jajpur.

Later, police detained several persons and carried out a flag march in Bachol panchayat.

The editors of media houses and journalists’ union took up the matter with the State Election Commission (SEC) and demanded security for the scribes for covering the panchayat elections.

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