An angry mob suddenly rushed into a HP petrol pump station near the Grand Road of Puri on Friday at 11 am and went on a damage spree.

Getting information, police reaching petrol pump started a lathicharge where scores of people, including nine mediapersons and a lawyer, were injured. Five journalists were admitted in the District Headquarters Hospital, sustaining severe injuries on heads and arms. The general secretary of the Puri Bar Association was also injured.

Strongly opposing the police brutality, the journalists of Puri and lawyers, staged a dharna in front of the SP office on Saturday and demanded exemplary punishment against the police. They also demanded compensation to the injured journalists.

In this contest, seven FIRs against police were lodged at the Kumbharapada police station on Saturday by journalists.

Sources said minutes after filling fuel from Khuntia petrol pump on Friday night, a biker had found his tank empty.  He suddenly came to the petrol pump and argued with manager about a manipulation in measure.

Other bikers waiting there started arguing with the petrol pump manager. Amid lauder arguments, a mob rushed to the spot and damaged the pump. On being informed about the incident, mediapersons reached the spot for collecting news. However, they were not spared when police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the mob.

Puri SP Dr Sarthak Sarangi rushed to the spot and took stock of the situation. However, people complained that several complaints in the past against petrol pump owner have come to the SP, but he never took any action. They charged that the police are taking bribes from the pump owner.

Meanwhile, police have seized the petrol pump and started an inquiry.