Journalist Brutally Attacked in Balangir; Four Arrested, Mastermind Absconding

Balangir: Four persons, including a minor, have been arrested in connection with a brutal attack on a journalist in Kulthipali village under Puintala police station limits in Bolangir district.

The prime suspect, local contractor Gajendra Dalai, accused of orchestrating the assault on journalist Bijay Kumar Pradhan, remains at large, with police intensifying efforts to apprehend him.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Abinash Dalai, Aditya Jena, and Gumara Nayak.

The attack stemmed from Pradhan’s investigation into alleged corruption surrounding a Rs 10 lakh guard wall construction project in the village. Locals had raised concerns over missing project details, as no signboard was displayed at the site, fueling suspicions of financial irregularities.

According to reports, Pradhan visited Kulthipali to gather information and record visuals of the construction site. While filming, he was ambushed by a group of miscreants who tied his hands and legs, paraded him through the village, and tied him to a pole, where he was brutally beaten for nearly two hours. The assailants further humiliated him by forcing him to swear an oath at a nearby temple not to report on the incident or the project. They also damaged his camera, destroyed two mobile phones, and allegedly stole cash from him.

Following the ordeal, Pradhan lodged a complaint at Puintala Police Station, leading to the swift arrest of the four suspects. The police are now investigating Gajendra Dalai’s role, who is believed to have masterminded the attack to suppress exposure of the alleged corruption.