Odishatv Bureau
Cuttack:  As directed by Odisha High Court, the state government on Wednesday submitted status report on alleged police assault on a judicial magistrate in Rourkela that took place on the night of April 2.

On behalf of the state government, Advocate General’s office placed the status report before the court. Meanwhile, the division bench of Chief Justice V Gopala Gowda and Justice B N Mohapatra deferred the next hearing to April 8 and directed the government to submit another status report on the developments in the case.

Earlier, the HC had directed the state government and the Rourkela Superintendent of Police to file reply within 24 hours following a PIL filed by a lawyer Dayanidhi Lenka seeking probe and action against those involved in the case.

“A status report has been submitted before the Hon’ble Chief Justice. The next hearing is scheduled for Friday. The court has directed to submit a status report regarding the course of progress of the case within these two days,” Dayanidhi Lenka, petitioner said.

On the other hand, the cease-work agitation by lawyers demanding arrest of accused Udit Nagar police station IIC and transfer of Rourkela SP entered third day. Apart from High Court Bar Association, Rourkela, Jajpur and other courts also joined the cease-work agitation.

“We deferred the meeting and decided to continue the strike up to 1:30 pm till tomorrow. There after we would decide about our future course of action,” President, High Court Bar Association, Biswa Mohan Patnaik said.

Meanwhile, the Rourkela arm of Orissa Police Association (OPA) has condemned the suspension of Sadanand Pujari who is accused of assault on the first class judicial magistrate Arun Patnaik. However, members of OPA have left for Rourkela to examine the situation.

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