Kendrapara: Tension prevailed as journalists Thursday allegedly locked up five BJD MLAs in the district collector’s office and refused to release them protesting against the attack on a scribe of a web portal by a female constable, the previous day. The journalists in the district staged demonstrations all through the day.
According to our district correspondent Jagannath Dhal, the scribes demanding action against the female cop, detained Mahakalapara MLA Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Kendrapara MLA Sashi Bhusan Behera, Patkura MLA Sabitri Agrawal, Rajnagar MLA Dhruba Sahoo and Aul MLA Pratap Keshari Deb. The scribes also demanded the suspension of the three police personnel present during the assault on the web journalist.
According to our Derabish block correspondent, Bebarta Ajay Das, the journalists asked the legislators to take action against the errant cops but they tried to sideline their pleas. This angered the mediapersons as they locked up the legislators inside the Collectorate. Some sources in the know of things also confirmed the development.
The legislators had come to the district collectorate to attend a virtual meeting on construction of a barrage on Mahanadi river.
Bhimsen Sethi had gone to the Kendrapara SP office when he found the policewoman working without a mask, July 19. He clicked a photo of hers and posted it on social media platforms. Since then Nayak had been nursing a grudge against Sethi.
When Sethi went to cover a BJP demonstration over an attack on the Dalit families in the district, the lady constable allegedly assaulted him while hurling abuses.
The highhandedness of the female cop angered the scribes after the video went viral in social media platforms Thursday morning.
Demanding stringent action against the accused, hundreds of journalists Thursday gheraoed the Collector’s office during which they locked up the legislators.
The legislators invited a five-member team of the scribes to come inside the Collectorate and held a discussion with them. They assured the delegation that action will be taken against the errant cops.
The journalists later, met the collector at his residential office and submitted a memorandum demanding suspension of the cops. Collector Amrit Ruturaj assured them of action after discussing with the SP.
Purna Chandra Das, secretary of State Web-Media Association said that the agitation will continue till action is taken against the errant cops.