JOIN USPrabir Kumar Das, a human rights activist and a high court lawyer has moved the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) seeking the agency’s intervention into the incident in which a photo-journalist of a leading vernacular daily was severely beaten up by the police.
The incident occurred on Monday during a demonstration by the students’ wing of the opposition Congress near Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s residence for the arrest of senior ruling BJD leader and former state law minister Raghunath Mohanty facing a dowry torture and harassment case.
“I have moved the NHRC for a free and fair investigation into the incident besides exemplary action against all the persons involved in the case. The scribe was beaten up despite showing his identity card,” he told Deccan Herald.
Director-General of Police Prakash Mishra on Tuesday suspended two constables of the Indian Reserve Battalion in connection with the incident. However, the move has not been able to satisfy either the journalists nor human rights activists who demand action against Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Nitinjeet Singh and the inspector in charge of the local police station.
“The journalist was beaten up right in front of the DCP and the IIC. Therefore, action should also be taken against both of them,” Das said.
Meanwhile, the state government has decided to provide jackets mentioning media to mediapersons covering rallies and demonstrations.
“The move would ensure easy identification of the mediapersons during any law and order situation,” Mishra said while talking to a group of media representatives on the issue here on Tuesday.
The top cop also said he would look into the incident personally and submit a report within fifteen days.