Report by Suchismita Sahoo; Bhubaneswar: A delegation of media persons, on behelf of Media Unity for Freedom of Press (MUFP)  called on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday, 14th January, 2011 at his office in Orissa Secretariat and handed over him a memorandum demanding immediate transfer of Mr. B.K. Sharma, Police Commissioner of Bhuabnewar  and Cuttack, D.C.P. Himasu Lal, A.C.P. Nirmal Kumar Kar and others who were responsible for atrocious beheaviour on Dharitri reporter Somanath Sahu on January 12, 2011 , while he was on duty to cover the annual news conference convened by the Commissioner in the D.C.P. office at Saheed Nagar.

Though invited to the Press Conference, Sahu was prevented from entering into the venue and was threatened of dire consequences for writing against the police. Even two senior police officers told him that the Commissioner had instructed them not to allow entry of any reporter of Dharitri to the venue.

The delegation comprised of senior media persons Prasanta Patnaik, of INDIA TV, Prafulla Das of the Hindu, Gopal Mohapatra of Sambad and Ramesh Chandra Mohanty, handed over a brief memorandum to the Chief Minister in this regard.

Prasanta Patnaik apprised the Chief Minister about repeated attack on the media in the State by the police, Government officials, education mafias and vested interests . The police instead of taking action against such persons were filing false cases against media persons and were terrorising them. Though the MUFP had met the Chief Minister on different occasions and had drawn his attention towards the plight of media and had sought redrassal, despite repeated assurance of the Chief Minister, nothing tangible has happened due to which the police and other anti-socials are getting encouraged to attack the media.

Gopal Mohapatra and Ramesh Chandra Mohanty also sought the immediate intervention of the Chief Minister to create a healthy atmosphere for smooth functioning of media by taking exemplary actions against the assaulters.

Chief Minister, Mr Patnaik, assured the media delegation to ensure safety functioning of the media.

The delegation was accompanied by Tathagat Satpathy, Dharitri, Papu Mohanty, Samaya, Priya Ranjan Sahu, Hindusthan Times, Girija Dash , Surya Prava, Bipin Das, Dharitri, Kamala Kanta Pati , Dharitri, Bhabani Prasad . Amari Katha, Giridhari Lal Sarangi and others representing print and electronic media also joined the team from Freedom Tree to the Chief Minister's Office.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik assured a team of journalists on Thursday evening that he would look into the alleged manhandling of Somanath Sahu, a young Reporter of Oriya daily`Dharitri'. The journalists demanded action against the senior police officials who manhandled the Reporter and prevented him from attending a press conference organised by at the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar.

MEMORANDUM.

MEDIA UNITY FOR FREEDOM OF PRESS

To                                                                                                                                                                           Bhubaneswar

                                                                                                                                                                                 January 14, 2011

The Hon’ble Chief Minister, Orissa.

Dear Sir,

We the journalists of the Capital city hereby submit that we are aggrieved over the increasing highhandedness of the Commissionerate Police with regard to objective reporting by media persons in the recent months in the twin city of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack.

The latest incident took place on Wednesday (January 12) at office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Saheed Nagar area where Somanath Sahu, Reporter of leading Oriya daily `Dharitri’ was threatened and manhandled by police officers and not allowed to attend a press conference there.

DCP  Mr. Himanshu Lal and some other police officers, including ACP (Traffic) Mr. Nirmal Kumar Satpathy and IIC of Kharavel Nagar police station Mr. Satyajit Mishra had told Mr. Sahu that Police Commissioner Mr. Bijay Kumar Sharma had instructed them not to allow any Correspondent of `Dharitri’ to attend the said press meet.

Mr. Sahu was also threatened of dire consequences by the police officers who forcefully prevented his entry inside the hall where the press meet was being held.

Earlier during the National Youth Festival, the Commissionarate had virtually imposed such ban on the reporters and camera persons of “ Aaromv “ Oriya daily, published from Bhubaneswar since it had published some critical report against the police.

In such a backdrop, we request you to personally intervene in the matter and immediately transfer the Police Commissioner, the DCP, the ACP (Traffic) and IIC of Kharavel Nagar police station for their unlawful and arrogant behavior  toward journalists on duty. We also demand for a high-level probe into the incidents of atrocities by the police and to take exemplary action against the erring police officers so that media persons will feel free and safe to perform their duty.

Thanking you.

Yours sincerely

On behalf of

Media Unity for Freedom of Press (MUFP)

MEMORANDUM.

MEDIA UNITY FOR FREEDOM OF PRESS

To                                                                                                                                                                           Bhubaneswar

                                                                                                                                                                                 January 14, 2011

The Hon’ble Chief Minister, Orissa.

Dear Sir,

We the journalists of the Capital city hereby submit that we are aggrieved over the increasing highhandedness of the Commissionerate Police with regard to objective reporting by media persons in the recent months in the twin city of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack.

The latest incident took place on Wednesday (January 12) at office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Saheed Nagar area where Somanath Sahu, Reporter of leading Oriya daily `Dharitri’ was threatened and manhandled by police officers and not allowed to attend a press conference there.

DCP  Mr. Himanshu Lal and some other police officers, including ACP (Traffic) Mr. Nirmal Kumar Satpathy and IIC of Kharavel Nagar police station Mr. Satyajit Mishra had told Mr. Sahu that Police Commissioner Mr. Bijay Kumar Sharma had instructed them not to allow any Correspondent of `Dharitri’ to attend the said press meet.

Mr. Sahu was also threatened of dire consequences by the police officers who forcefully prevented his entry inside the hall where the press meet was being held.

Earlier during the National Youth Festival, the Commissionarate had virtually imposed such ban on the reporters and camera persons of “ Aaromv “ Oriya daily, published from Bhubaneswar since it had published some critical report against the police.

In such a backdrop, we request you to personally intervene in the matter and immediately transfer the Police Commissioner, the DCP, the ACP (Traffic) and IIC of Kharavel Nagar police station for their unlawful and arrogant behavior  toward journalists on duty. We also demand for a high-level probe into the incidents of atrocities by the police and to take exemplary action against the erring police officers so that media persons will feel free and safe to perform their duty.

Thanking you.

Yours sincerely

On behalf of

Media Unity for Freedom of Press (MUFP)