Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, July 7: Goons hired by Ranjan Das, a chit fund accused who was out on bail, Tuesday thrashed a photo journalist while he was taking pictures of his house (MB-83) at Badagada Brit Colony on a tip-off that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided it.
CBI reportedly mounted raids on Das’s residence, who was the chairman of Swastik India Multi State Credit Cooperative, Tuesday morning in connection with the ponzi probe.
“I came to Das’s house along with Dharitri’s photographer to take snaps of the CBI raids. We were clicking pictures of the house from outside when suddenly four men dashed towards us and dragged me from the bike into the house. Das put a gun on my head and threatened me of dire consequences if the photos are published. He kept me confined and his goons thrashed me mercilessly,” Jitendra Mohanty, the victim photo journalist said.
“They pointed a gun at me and would have killed me too had it not been the timely action of a Dharitri photographer who informed the cops who came to my rescue,” he added.
However, after the incident Das along with his wife came to Badagada police station and lodged a complaint alleging that scribes had attempted to rape his wife. Scores of irate journalists reached the police station and demanded immediate arrest of Das.
Zone IV ACP Akshaya Kumar Mishra and Badagada IIC Suvendu Sinha said Das has been booked under stringent sections.
“Charges under sections 341, 365, 346, 323, 325, 307, 506 and 34 of IPC and 25 of Arms Act have been slapped on Das,” Mishra said. Sensing the sensitivity of the case, Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrata Bhoi reached the spot. “We are examining the CCTV footage and we will nab the accused soon,” he said.
Bhoi informed the media that the Commissionerate Police will write a letter to the CBI court pointing out that the chit fund accused, who were out on bail, are indulging in such unlawful activities.
Expressing solidarity with the scribes, leading Oriya daily Dharitri’s editor-in-chief and Dhenkanal MP Tathagata Satpathy arrived at the police station.
“It is very sad to see that journalists are being attacked in Orissa. However, it is a very good sign that the journalists of different media houses are standing here together to battle the odds,” Satpathy said.
“We will organise a meet at the Press Club to discuss about rising threats to the scribes and to find ways for their safety,” he added. Das, who had been arrested by the CBI in the Artha Tatwa case, had been granted conditional bail by the CBI court here on the orders of the high court after spending several months in Jharpada jail here.
Meanwhile, a case was registered and Das produced in court Tuesday.
