By SANTOSH MOHANTY
Media organizations, political parties as well as social wings have demanded action against the culprits who attacked journalists in Angul headquarters town recently.
The scribes were attacked and their camera and other equipments were damaged on the premises of district headquarters hospital recently during a visit by Kayakalp team. The Kayakalp team has been formed by the Union Health Ministry to monitor cleanliness in government hospitals and improve quality of health services.
One reporter and a photo journalist of Odisha's leading language dailies were allegedly brutally attacked by a security guard while they had gone to cover the visit of Kayakalp team of Union Government. They were allegedly denied entry, asked to go back and attacked following wordy duel.
Meanwhile, Talcher journalists have presented a memorandum to Odisha Governor urging him to take stringent against the culprits involved in the crime of gagging the press. The Angul district unit of Congress Party has presented a memorandum to the District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain demanding action against the security personnel and initiate a through probe to ascertain other elements responsible for such crime. District Congress president Biplab Jena headed the delegation to present the memorandum to District Collector.
Former Dhenkanal MP Rudra Narayan Pany has condemned the attack on journalists saying this act is inimical to democratic values. He demanded early action against the perpetrator.
Members of district journalist association have clarified that the District Administration was not involved in the matter and the hospital authorities are solely responsible for the crime.
