Balasore: In an attempt to stifle the voice of Press, unidentified miscreants yesterday attacked a reporter of a reputed Odia daily at Gunapur Chhak on Baliapal-Kamarda road and left him critically injured.
The victim journalist has been identified as Pratap Patra.
The attack took place at around 9 pm last night while Patra was returning to his home from office by riding a motorcycle. A group of miscreants on three bikes chased him and intercepted near Gunapur Chhak and hacked with sharp weapons. The also snatched away the mobile phone and gold necklace of the victim before fleeing from the spot.
Pratap, who sustained injuries on his head, chest and hands, was rushed to Baliapal Community Health Centre (CHC) by some locals immediately after the incident.
“I had reported a news on sand mafias who are on the prowl in Balasore a few days back, for which some people involved in the racket were threatening me. Some miscreants had started following me continuously for past 2-3 days in connection with which I had gone to lodge a case at the local police station yesterday,” informed Pratap to media persons.
While the victim claims that he knows the attackers and handed over a list bearing their names to local police, an investigation has begun to nab them.
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Ms Kalinga