Jajpur: Binjharpur police have arrested 10 more persons including six women Monday morning in connection with alleged attack on three scribes in Bachhol panchayat under Binjharpur block of Jajpur that took place during the third phase of three-tier rural polls Sunday.
However, prime accused of the attack was arrested Sunday night. The 11 arrested so far will be forwarded to local court later in the day. Possibly, the number would increase, a senior official informed.
“As investigation regarding involvement of other persons in connection with the incident is underway, they will be arrested soon and strict action will be taken against attackers,” Jajpur SP Rahul PR said.
“A total of 22 persons including the prime accused, who are yet to be identified, were detained by the Binjharpur police for interrogation after numerous searches conducted in Bachhol panchayat Sunday evening following the attack on three scribes. As many as 10 out of them were arrested Monday after being quizzed. Further probe of the remaining persons is still underway at the station,” the senior official stated.
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A source said that around 35 people were named in the FIR lodged by the three scribes at Binjharpur police station in connection with the attack on them. The three scribes were identified as Debashis Sahoo, Gulshan Ali Nawaz and Bijay Sahoo of an electronic media.
It is pertinent to mention, the trio had gone to cover the incident of ballot box loot from two booths at Bachhol panchayat under Binjharpur block. Later, they were severely assaulted by a number of unidentified miscreants. Irked locals intercepted the journalists and severely beat them. Vehicles of the scribes were also ransacked by the mob.
Condemning the incident, a group of senior journalists from several media houses had met State Election Commissioner in Bhubaneswar Sunday and demanded stringent action against the attackers.
The loot incident was reported from Booth No-4 and 6 of a polling station in the panchayat under Binjharpur block of Jajpur district.
At least four miscreants allegedly barged into the said booths and later decamped with two ballot boxes Sunday morning at around 9.30am. Subsequently, the miscreants threw the boxes in a nearby pond.
Palpable tension prevailed in the village following the undemocratic incident. Hundreds of locals strongly resented and demanded arrest of the four wrongdoers who were involved in the loot of ballot boxes.
On the other hand, voting process at the polling booth was ceased.
PNN
