Attack on senior journalist Padmanabh Biswal:- Various media representatives meet SP demanding immediate arrest of accused

By Prasanna Kumar Paikaray

Khordha,Apr 22 : In protest against the incident of an anti-social person entering the house of senior journalist Padmanabh Biswal of Tangi, Khordha assaulting, abusing and threatening to kill him while publish a news , a large number of media representatives today met the SP, Khordha and submitted a memorandum  demanding the immediate arrest of the accused. OUWJ, Khordha district unit President Prakash Kumar Hati  has warned that all media representatives will take a protest if the accused is not arrested within 7 days.

 This has been supported by the members of Khordha District Press Club and Tangi Block Journalists Association. As per the report,Tangi  Block Journalists Association President and senior citizen Padmanabh Biswal (82) had broadcast a news  about the suicide of a  married woman in a newspaper on the 8th and 9th this month.

 Incited by this, on the 16th, the miscreants  from Badapari area under Tangi police station along with his supporters entered Mr. Biswal’s house, abused him in obscene language and brutally attacked him . He even alleged that he was threatened with death if he broadcast the news again .Mr. Biswal is a senior citizen and a prominent person, while after this incident, Mr. Biswal’s couple is in a state of fear and insecurity.

He has filed a written complaint in this regard at Tangi police station. But even after 7 days of the complaint, the tangi police have not registered a case yet, rather it is alleged that the police officer is trying to find a way for an anti-social person to escape from the case.

The District Press Club and Tangi Block Journalists’ Association have condemned such a sensitive incident and taken it seriously. The associations have today met SP, Vivekananda Sharma and demanded that the accused be arrested and Mr. Biswal be provided security. If  immediate action is not taken against the accused, the media representatives have warned that they will protest in front of the SP office after 7 days. The SP has promised that a special officer from the district police headquarters will be given the charge to inquiry the incident. Among others, Khoradha District Press Club President, Subhransu Ranjan Samantray, Secretary , Dillip Kumar Pattnaik, OUJ,Khordha District President, Tapan Kumar Nayak, OUWJ, Khordha District , President Prakash Kumar Hati, UJA, Khordha District President , Abyakta Harihar Khadnga, ouj state office secretary prasanna paikaray, Tangi Block Journalists Union Secretary ,Manoj Pattnaik, Senior Member Pradeep Kumar Mahapatra, Treasurer Damodar Sahu, Alok Maharana, Umesh Pattnaik, Manas Pradhan, Rajnikant Mishra and all members of Khordha District Press Club and Tangi Block Journalists Association were present.