Scribes hold up traffic at AG Square in Bhubaneswar Tuesday against Gayadhar Swain who allegedly attacked a TV channel reporter at a press meet on Unit I market. OP Photo
Bhubaneswar: A television journalist was heckled and threatened by the secretary of the Unit I Market Association, Gayadhar Swain, and his men at Unit I in the city Tuesday for asking an uncomfortable question at a press conference. The incident sparked off protests from the media fraternity. Swain was arrested.
According to the complainant lodged by Kisan Barai, he was surrounded by Swain and a few men owing allegiance to him. Swain and his men, alleged Barai, held him by his shirt collars and threatened him. Swain had convened the press conference to speak about allegations of rampant corruption in the allotment of vending spaces at Unit I market.
When Swain termed the alleged corruption as rumors and said a BMC inquiry will clear the air, Barai asked him how a BMC inquiry can be trusted since his (Swain’s) wife is a corporator. This question prompted the assault on Barai by Swain and his men present there.
Barai alleged that he was asked not to put forth such questions and to leave the press conference immediately. He also said he was threatened by Swain and his men.
The alleged corruption in allotment of vending spaces at Unit I market was covered in a section of the vernacular media with reports claiming Swain had been selling the shop spaces by taking anything between `2 and `5 lakh from people interested. Under BMC rules, these spaces are usually allotted to genuine vendors at less than `10,000 each, said sources.
The assault on Barai led to several media persons gheraoing Capital police station with demands for the immediate arrest of Swain. Dissatisfied with oral assurances by police officials, some media persons also blocked a road at AG Square in protest against Swain’s act.
Vehicular movement at AG Square remained crippled for two hours as the agitating media persons parked their motorcycles, cars and OB vans in the middle of the roads. The blockade was lifted when ACP Asim Panda informed the journalists that Swain was arrested.
Swain faces charges under Sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 354 (assault), 294 (obscene act), 34 (common intention) and 323 (causing hurt) of IPC. PNN
