Odishatv Bureau

A photo journalist was allegedly manhandled by a policeman outside Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. 

The police allegedly attacked and injured the lensman, identified as Rakesh Roul, when a hockey match was underway at the stadium. 

As per sources, New Zealand hockey team was on way to the stadium when Roul clicked photographs. However, it enraged a policeman who questioned him and went on to assault him. 

It was alleged that the policeman, who was on a bus, got down and abused Roul before pushing him to the ground and assaulting him. Roul’s camera was also snatched by a security personnel. 

“I along with another photo journalist was returning from an event via Fortune Tower Road when bus carrying hockey players crossed the area. Noticing the players some people started clicking their pictures. As soon as I clicked some pictures on my cellphone, a policeman who was standing near the gate of the bus verbally abused me. When we confronted the policeman near Jaydev Vihar for using slangs, he snatched my camera and threw it to the ground. He also pushed me to the ground and assaulted me,” Roul said. 

The incident invited widespread condemnation from media fraternity in the State who demanded strong action against the erring policemen. 

Several journalists shared the video of the incident and condemned the highhandedness of the police. 

Later, journalists gheraoed the office of ACP Zone 5 at 9pm demanding action against the IIC of Nayapalli police station and another police personnel in connection with the incident.

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