Sambad's Pipili reporter Sri Rajat Ratan Das was brutally attacked by a group of anti-socials this morning allegedly at the behest of the local NAC chairman.
Sri Das who has sustained fractures and head injuries has been rushed to the Capital Hospital, Unit-6 for treatment.
According to reports, the Pipili Notofied Area Council (NAC ) Chairman Saikh Babu and his supporters attacked MrRajat Ranjan Dash. Another reporter woring for Anupam Bharat, Pratap Chandra Barik, who was accompanying Mr. Dash, was also attacked.
Pipili is located on Bhubaneswar-Puri road at a distance of about 15 kms from Bhubaneswar and is famous for applique work.
Saikh Babu, who belongs to the ruling Biju Janata Dal, was aggrieved over the publication of a news item in Sambad about him.
Local people took to the streets immediately after the incident and blocked the NH-203 in protest against the attacks.
In a statement, the Media Unity for Freedom of the Press (MUFP) demanded the immediate arrest of the Pipili NAC chairman and his associates for the dastardly attack and a quick probe by the
Collector, Puri.
It is clear that incidents of brutal attacks on mediapersons are on the rise in Orissa primarily because the perpetrators of such crimes are rarely taken to task. The gross indifference of the state governmen in such matters has made matters worse, the MUFP said.