Three Arrested For Assault On Scribe Inside Cinema Hall In City

Bhubaneswar: Sahid Nagar police on Sunday arrested three persons in connection with the assault on a scribe inside a cinema hall in Odisha capital.

The victim, identified as Kapilendra Pradhan, was allegedly attacked for opposing a group of students who were passing lewd comments on women the previous day.

He sustained multiple injuries in the attack and was admitted to Capital Hospital. He was later discharged after primary treatment.

Speaking to the media, DGP R P Sharma said strict action will be initiated against the culprits in accordance with law. A competent police officer has been assigned the task of investigating the case, he added.

Earlier in the evening, a group of journalists had met the DGP and demanded action against those involved in the incident.

According to sources, the incident took place at around 12.30 pm on Saturday.

Pradhan alleged that 10-12 students of Utkal University beat him up inside the movie hall when he tried to stop them from passing lewd comments on women, who were watching a film.

In the written complaint, he also mentioned some names. “Soumya Ranjan, Amiya Patnaik and Chintu, among other students of Utkal University, attacked me and took away my office identity card and gold chain forcibly,” he said.

Though hundreds of people and the staff of the cinema hall were present inside the hall, no one intervened, he added.

Some students of Utkal University have also lodged a counter case against the journalist.