Condemning the murderous attack on Daritri reporter Chandrakant Das by a criminal in presence of general public and the intriguing Police inaction despite written complaints, the Media Unity for Freedom of Press (MUFP) has issued the following statement:
It is a matter of great concern that the police has yet to wake up to the murderous attack on journalist Chandrakanta Das of Dharitri on 29 April 2010 at 10.30 in presence of the general public by miscreant Kailash Bastia even though Das, rescued by the people present on the spot, has informed in writing of this offence at 11 AM to the police at Karsada. Over and above the physical assault, the miscreant has also robbed him of his gold chain and cash exceeding Rs.3,000/-. This assault was perpetrated as Das had reported a robbery in Dharitri that had irritated the local police as well as Kailas. Apprehending that the police inaction at the local level is generated by its nexus with criminals, the Jagatsinghpur Journalists association had moved the Director General of Police to intervene; but that having failed to buzz the DGP; they have staged a sit-in-demonstration on 5 May 2010 in front of his office.
The Media Unity for Freedom of Press expresses deep anguish over continuous attacks on media persons in Orissa and condemns police inaction against attackers on journalists in general and on Das in particular and calls upon the DGP as well as the State Government to ensure that in every case of assault on media persons by criminals affected by exposure in media, the police personnel of the area concerned be taken to task as abettors in the crime.