Attack On Journalists During Panchayat Polls: 11 Persons Including 6 Women Arrested In Jajpur

As many as 11 persons, including 6 women, have been arrested in connection with the attack on journalists in Bachhol Panchayat under Binjharpur Block of Jajpur district during the third phase of Panchayat polls on Sunday.

The prime accused of the attack is also among those arrested by the Binjharpur Police. All the arrested accused will be forwarded to the court later in the day.

A total of 22 persons, including the main accused and his accomplices who are yet to be identified, were detained by the Binjharpur Police after multiple raids in Bachhol Panchayat yesterday in the aftermath of the attack. Out of them, 11 were arrested today following questioning while the interrogation of the remaining persons is underway at the police station, sources said.

“Investigation is underway regarding the involvement of other persons in connection with the case. They will be arrested soon and strict action will be taken against the attackers,” said Jajpur SP Rahul PR.

Around 30-40 people were named in the FIR filed by the three journalists in connection with the attack on them at Binjharpur Police Station.

The three scribes--Debashis Sahoo, Gulshan Ali Nawaz and Bijay Sahoo of an electronic media house were on their way to cover the alleged loot of ballot boxes from two booths at Bachhol Panchayat when they were intercepted midway by a group of people and brutally assaulted. Their vehicles were also ransacked.

Condemning the incident, a group of senior journalists from several media houses had met the State Election Commissioner at Bhubaneswar yesterday and demanded stringent action against the attackers.