Balasore: Locals are observing a 12-hour bandh in Nilagiri in protest of the alleged police assault of journalist Lokanath Dalei who had been kept in chains after he was admitted to a hospital following his arrest in a purported case.
While a Havildar has been suspended in connection with the case, the Inspector-in-Charge of Nilagiri Police Station Draupadi Das and investigating officer Subarna Behera have been transferred.
However, the protestors have demanded that the then IIC and investigating officer should be suspended and criminal action should be initiated against them. They have also demanded to withdraw the purported case against Dalei and provide him a compensation of Rs 5 lakh.
Dalei, who is a correspondent of a local daily and TV channel had gone to the Nilagiri Police Station, on Monday in connection with a minor accident involving his motorbike. His bike had collided with the two-wheeler of Niranjan Rana, a Home Guard at the Nilagiri Police Station, on April 4. Following this, the two had a minor altercation, which was settled after the intervention of some locals.
Dalei had taken away the home guard’s helmet demanding that he pay for the repair of the damages caused to his bike. Rana had filed an FIR against Dalei, and on Wednesday the journalist was asked to come to the police station. Dalei said that he was confronted by the Inspector, who the journalist said had a grudge against him for reporting assignments in the past. “They made me sit for five hours and assaulted me when I tried to contact my friends and colleagues. I had fainted and by evening (April 6), I was admitted to the district headquarters hospital,” he had said earlier.
The pictures of Dalei lying on a mattress on the hospital floor and his legs cuffed to a bed, went viral on social media, triggering outrage in the media fraternity and several other forums. Odisha Human Rights Commission took suo moto cognizance of the case and sought a report from the State police. Similarly, the Editor’s Guild of India wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah and drew his attention to the alleged atrocity. Hours after the uproar, the IIC concerned and the investigating officer of the case was transferred.
