Three held for attacking scribes in Bhubaneswar

BHUBANESWAR - Three officials of a Bhubaneswar-based Silicon Engineering College have been arrested on charges of attacking mediapersons, police said Friday.

About 12 mediapersons were attacked Thursday night when they went to the college premises after a third-year B. Tech student, Shamsuddin Shah, died allegedly of food poisoning.

“Some scribes of TV channels were attacked and their cameras were damaged when they were tried to reach the college students inside the campus,” senior journalist Prasanna Mohanty said.

“These journalists had gone there after reports of a student’s death. The student died of food poisoning and several others complained of uneasiness after dinner. They (journalists) were attacked brutally. It is condemnable,” he added.

The incident triggered statewide protests from mediapersons, who demanded action against assailants. An FIR was lodged by mediapersons.

“It is an unfortunate incident. We have arrested three persons in this connection. We are tying to apprehend the other culprits. We will ensure strictest possible punishment to the culprits,” Bhubaneswar police commissioner said B.K. Sharma said.

The state government has also ordered an enquiry by a senior IAS officer into the incident.