By Rakesh Gupta: In a bizarre incident in Nabarangpur district, one scribe was arrested on Tuesday after series of allegations of collecting money from Anganwadi workers.
Some Anganwadi workers of Maidalpur area under Papdahandi Block lodged an FIR at the Papdahandi Police station alleging that two local journalists, coming in a Sumo, demanded money or else face the consequence as the duo threatened to complain the district authority against them. Out of fear, some Anganwadi workers paid them some amount of money after little bargaining.
In the similar fashion, the duo visited as many as 38 Anganwadi Centres and collected nearly eighteen thousand rupees. However, many workers refused to pay money and complained at the Papdahandi Police station.
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Talking to TNI, the IIC of Papdahandi Police Station Saroj Upadhya told that an FIR was registered against one lady and one man who are supposed to be the local reporter for Papdahandi Block of two premier Odia Daily. A case has been registered bearing number 75/20-04-2013 u/s 384,385,419,420 and 34 of IPC.
In this case, one Bhagwan Majhi, who claims himself as the local reporter of an Odia Daily, was arrested yesterday and forwarded to Nabarangpur court while the lady- journalist and the driver of the Sumo are absconded. Police told that the duo have been collecting money in this fashion since long time.
The nasty work in the name of Journalist is being strongly condemned by the Nabarangpur District Journalist Association and the civil society.