Midday crime unleashed on Janpath

Displaying scant respect for police, five youths chased an autorickshaw for more than a kilometre and thrashed its driver in full public glare on the crowded Janpath near Kharavel Nagar here on Thursd

BHUBANESWAR: Displaying scant respect for police, five youths chased an autorickshaw for more than a kilometre and thrashed its driver in full public glare on the crowded Janpath near Kharavel Nagar here on Thursday afternoon.

When reporters of a popular news channel intervened and tried to cover the incident, the hooligans went after them. However, when the public gathered and started to protest, the attackers made a hasty retreat.
Three of them were later arrested by Kharavel Nagar police from Bhubaneswar railway station. They were identified as Jeet Mohanty, Durgesh Naik and Sagar Dalai.

Eyewitnesses said two of them had a tiff with the autorickshaw driver near Satya Nagar when the latter had overtaken their bike. They had stopped the vehicle and manhandled the driver who managed to get away. However, the duo did not stop at that and called three of their friends who gave the autorickshaw a chase. Three persons, including a minor boy, were travelling in the autorickshaw.
The five intercepted the autorickshaw in front of BJP State office and started assaulting the driver. The passengers tried to mediate but were abused.

A group of TV journalists who were at BJP office reached the spot and attempted to intervene. However, they were intimidated. When the reporter and cameraman of OTV, a popular channel, started shooting the hooliganism, the five turned their ire on them. The trio rained abuses and even tried to damage their camera.

Soon, locals gathered which unnerved the five and they fled on their bikes. Kharavel Nagar police immediately reached the spot and basing on TV footage, launched a search. The three were arrested within a few hours. Police suo motu registered a case and booked the three for attempt to murder and criminal intimidation.

Eyewitnesses account

Eyewitnesses said two of them had a tiff with the autorickshaw driver near Satya Nagar when the latter had overtaken their bike. They had stopped the vehicle and manhandled the driver who managed to get away. However, the duo did not stop at that and called three of their friends who gave the autorickshaw a chase

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The New Indian Express
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