The Media Unity for Freedom of Press, (MUFP) in a statement issued by its Presidium at Bhubaneswar, has strongly condemned the physical assault on Sri Abhay Pati, Reporter of OTV, by the Manager of Cuttack Urban Co-operative Bank, Jajpur, Sri Gour Prasad Das, when he was covering Vigilance raid on Banker’s house on 20th February, 2010.
Noting that tainted functionaries in different sectors in increasing numbers are attacking journalists on duty, the MUFP has told the Orissa government that lack of criminal action against such miscreants is the reason of increasing assault on Press.
“We call upon the Police to initiate action on this specific instance of use of physical force to intimidate the OTV reporter by the exposed Bank manager in presence of vigilance sleuths”, the presidium has stated, while emphasizing that the Vigilance Police should reflect the crime of intimidation resorted to by the raided Bank Manager in their charge sheet against him.
The MUFP has also urged upon the authorities of the concerned Bank to take immediate exemplary action against the erring manager so that in future none of the employees would dare to manhandle any journalist on duty.