While talking to reporters in Sambalpur, Pradhan said bureaucrats and officers have no moral rights to behave in such a manner with journalists.
"I dislike the way the bureaucrat misbehaved with the journalist. Moreover, officers don't have any moral right to misbehave with media which is the fourth pillar of our democracy. I am utterly surprised over Dev's behaviour," said Pradhan.
The Sambalpur MP also condemned the attack on Utkal Bharat president Kharabela Swain during a public meeting at Kashipur in Rayagada yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Koraput Press Club has denounced the misbehaviour of Dev and stated the efforts to throttle the voice of media will not be successful.
"We demand that the bureaucrat should immediately apologise for his misbehaviour," said Bhabani Shankar Mishra, president of the Korapur Press Club.
It is pertinent to mention that the Sports Secretary lashed out at the OTV journalist inside his official chamber on November 21 when the latter had gone to seek the official’s comments on the Hockey World Cup.
Dev reportedly asked the reporter to go out of his room and stated that it was neither a park nor a public place and he was not invited.
Dev was reportedly aggrieved over OTV report which brought out the discrepancies and hassles faced by thousands of fans during online ticket sale of the opening ceremonies of the Hockey World Cup.
The matter came to fore after the girl students informed their parents about the incident which happened on January 29, leading to a massive outrage.
The headmaster, who stayed on leave after the incident citing health issues, came to the school on Thursday to meet the parents of the girl students. However, a few parents and guardians tonsured the headmaster and thrashed him severely leaving him injured.
After getting information about the incident, Suliapada police reached the spot and rescued the headmaster.
Later, based on a complaint filed by the family members of the girl students, police registered four cases including one under POCSO Act.
"The headmaster was beaten up by some parents and relatives of the girl students for misbehaving with them. Later we reached the spot and rescued him. Further investigation is on," IIC of Suliapada police station Sanjay Kumar Pradhan said.
As per reports, VLW Bidyut Mahapatra had allegedly misbehaved with a woman during the distribution of some consumer products and pension in the past. Protesting the incident, locals today locked up Mahapatra inside a room and gheraoed the panchayat office.
After getting information about the incident, Kaptipada police reached the spot and rescued the VLW. No comments could be obtained from the VLW on the matter.
As per reports, one Sanjib Panda, teacher of Mathura U.P School allegedly called a girl student of class V to his office and later misbehaved and touched her inappropriately.
After the girl narrated the entire episode before her family members, they lodged a complaint at Junagad police station.
"We demand stringent action against the accused and have requested the police officials to probe and provide justice to us," said mother of the girl.
However the accused Panda has refuted the allegations and termed it as a conspiracy against him.
On the other hand, police have assured stringent action against the accused and have started interrogation of him as part of further investigation into the incident.
"A case has been registered at Junagad police station and the accused teacher has been arrested. The accused and minor girl will be sent for medical examination, said Dharmagad DSP, S.N Sathapthy.
As per reports, the tourist identified as Fiorella Bizzaro had booked a room for five days at Hotel Krishna Residency. She arrived at the hotel on Wednesday night and was given room number 302. But later the power supply of the room was cut and she was thrown out of it. Besides, she was asked to book a room again.
"I entered inside my room where electricity supply was cut and the guy said to me to sit down and wait. I said I will go to call the police and discuss with them about this problem," said Bizzaro.
After receiving a complaint from the tourist the proprietor of Hotel Krishna Residency, Asimananda Mallik, was detained for interrogation.
On the other hand Mallik has denied the allegations.
"I had not asked her to sit down. The electricity supply was not cut but she may have not pushed the key tag properly. As she was a lone lady we cannot enter her room so I waited outside and when she came out I enquired about the problem," he said.
"The tourist has alleged the hotel staff misbehaved with her. We called the manager of the residency and had a discussion with him. As she has filed a written complaint, we are sending it to higher forum that deals with matters concerning with foreigners and are inquiring into the matter," said IIC of Baliapanda police station, Debasis Mishra.
The FIR has been lodged with the Sambalpur Government Railway Police (GRP) station under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and also for misbehaviour in public place, police sources said.
According to the DSC Sona Hembram's allegations, he was on Security Bandobast duty at the railway station when the DRM, Dinesh Kumar Singh, arrived and allegedly misbehaved with him and made derogatory remarks. He further alleged that the DRM passed casteist remarks at him in front of public and other sub-ordinates following which he filed a written complaint at the GRP.
"I tried to pacify the situation but the DRM did not control his humour and continued his abuse without listening to a single word. I felt very much hurt and humiliated as I was pointed out to be of low caste in front of the public and my sub-ordinates," the DSC alleged.
An investigation has been launched and action will be taken after a thorough probe, police officials said.
However, the DRM could not be contacted over the issue.
https://youtu.be/uH22o8aotiQ
A complaint regarding this has been filed by the girl at the Sadar police station of the district. The girl, hailing from Goudapada under Sadar police limits alleged that Kanhar and his driver Rinku Sahoo trespassed into her house on Sunday night and misbehaved with her.
“He keeps harassing and blackmailing girls. They entered my house and thrashed my mother too. I have lodged an FIR against Debendra Kanhar and his associate Rinku,” informed the girl without divulging details and reason behind the attack.
“The complainant has accused Kannhar and his driver Rinku trespassed into her house. We have registered a case under sections 451 (house-trespass), 294 (obscene act), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 354 (molestation), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 370 (exploitation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the two,” informed Kandhamal Additional SP Utkal Ranjan Dash.
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“She has not mentioned the exact reason behind the act. It will be known after the investigation,” added Dash. Meanwhile, Kanhar is yet to comment on the matter.
"I had come here for SOG training but due to illness, I requested the Commandant to allow me some slack. Then he started abusing me and called me an anti-national. I sought permission to meet the IG, but it has been denied. Doctors have advised me to take rest," Behera said.
Refuting the allegations, the SOG Commandant has filed a counter complaint against the sub-inspector alleging misbehaviour. Singh has said that he will appeal to the DGP for disciplinary action against the trainee sub-inspector.
Reportedly, health condition of some trainees deteriorated during the training session today.
"Earlier on multiple occasions, he had left the training session in between. This time also he wanted to leave after creating a drama. When I tried to console him, he misbehaved with me," Singh alleged.
As per reports, the student was travelling from Charamba area to Banta Chhak in Bhadrak on the front seat of the vehicle alongside the driver. During the journey, the auto rickshaw driver allegedly misbehaved with her.
After getting down from the auto rickshaw, the girl student thrashed the driver with her sandals. Even though no complaint was lodged in this regard, the video of the incident has been doing rounds on social media.
As per reports, the lawyers who had come to the collectorate for hearing of a case had to wait for a long time to meet the collector. When they questioned about the delay, the collector allegedly misbehaved with the lawyers and pushed them out of the office.
Subsequently, tension erupted after the lawyers gheraoed the collector office. The agitators asked the officials inside the collectorate to vacate the office and also manhandled the ADM in the process.
"There was no such incident of ransacking but lawyers association was agitated as the collector misbehaved with us," said former president of district lawyers' association, Naba Kishore Guru.
Later in the day, a discussion between lawyers’ association and the district administration failed. The lawyers have demanded an unconditional apology from collector threatening to launch a cease-work stir.
Subsequently, the woman raised an alarm following which some other passengers nabbed the youth and handed him over to the GRP. However, the arrested youth has brushed aside the allegations.
"I inadvertently hit the lady's knee with my elbow following which her mobile fell down. She thought I deliberately did it to her," said Rout.
Speaking on the incident, IIC of Government Railway Police, Ranjan Pattnaik said, "With the help of some co-passengers, the woman handed over the accused to GRP. We have filed a case and will forward him to the court."
In their complaint, the lecturers claimed that Suraprasad Tripathy, a Reader in Economics department of the institution has been torturing them for the last two years.
“Suraprasad Tripathy of Economics department has been misbehaving with me. He often verbally abuses and also humiliates me in front of the students,” alleged a complainant.
The Higher Education Department of the State government, meanwhile, has directed the Regional Director of Education, to conduct a probe and submit a report within seven days.
The probe order was issued after the complainants apprised the Chief Minister, Director of the Higher Education Department and Principal of the college about the matter on December 6.
On the other hand, the accused Tripathy has denied the allegations. “The charges levelled against me are baseless and vindictive. I maintain a good rapport with everyone,” he clarified.
The principal of the college is said to have submitted his report to the State government in a closed envelope.
A fresh allegation against the BJD leader has put him in soup again. Jagabandhu Sahu, a Junior Engineer working with the Chilika Development Authority (CDA) has filed a complaint against Jagdev for alleged misbehaviour.
As per his written complaint to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CDA, Jagdev misbehaved with him on the night of August 15 in an inebriated condition and threatened to thrash him by calling local goons to the spot.
Sahu further wrote, “On the night of August 15, Jagdev and his family along with the BDO of Banapur and his husband arrived at the Scientist Hostel in CDA. Upon their arrival, the caretaker of the hostel and I offered them Rooms (203, 204, 205) for overnight stay. However, showing displeasure over a trivial matter, Jagdev snapped and yelled at me."
Sahu even alleged that the MLA consumed alcohol in room number-204 till 2:30 AM that night.
“Jagdev got angry by saying that if my higher-ups are fine with it, why am I not picking up his calls? Then he shouted at me and directed me to leave the place.” added Sahu.
However, the MLA clarified over phone that the allegations made against him are baseless.
“I was there in the hostel that night but I am unaware of any misbehaviour as alleged,” said Jagdev.
“However, I will look into the matter if any such thing is brought to my notice,” added Jagdev.
Notably, Jagdev has a history of confrontations with his critics. Earlier his name had cropped up in the thrashing of BJP workers in Manamunda of Boudh district.
(Edited By Bikram Keshari Jena)
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