OTV journalist assaulted by Electricity Dept assistant engineer

An assistant engineer identified as Jagannath Pati of the Electricity Department at Titilagarh in Bolangir district was accused of assaulting two journalists while they were reporting on a tragic incident involving a fatal electrocution mishap on Wednesday.

According to sources, the engineer was busy in feasting rather than being on duty. He got aggrieved when the journalists approached him at the feasting site as part of news coverage.

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Jagannath Pati attacked the reporters, including the one from Odisha Television Network (OTV), while the journalists were filming their segment.

A serious altercation erupted as the reporters were trying to gather the assistant engineer’s comments on the death of a man who died earlier in the day after coming in contact with a live 11 KV wire.

Abinash Nanda, the OTV journalist, visited the Electricity Department’s office today (a working day) to seek the official’s statement. However, Jagannath Pati was not present in the office and was allegedly found feasting outdoors.

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Upon approaching Pati for his comments, it’s claimed that the official responded with aggression leading to the altercation that was captured on video.

Following the incident, the journalists have lodged a complaint with the local police.

No comments were received from the official concerned or the local police.