Political parties like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Samajwadi Party on Thursday condemned the brutal murder of Journalist Tarun Kumar Acharya near Khallikote police station in Ganjam district.
Protesting the murder, workers and supporters of CPI (M) led by its Bhubaneswar district secretary Suresh Panigrahy and party’s regional committee secretary Prabhat Panigrahy came in a procession from the Master Canteen Square and staged a demonstration at the lower PMG here. The party demanded Crime Branch probe into the death of Acharya, exemplary punishment to the murder accused, `25 lakh compensation to his family and security for working journalists in the State. The BJP condemned the brutal murder in strong words and expressed grave concern over the security of the journalists in the State, who represent the fourth pillar of the Constitution. The party also demanded that the accused be arrested and compensation be given to the deceased’s family soon. Samajwadi Party Odisha State Committee president Rabi Behera also condemned the murder and criticised the State Government for failing to control rising criminal activities in the State. “If a journalist is not safe in Chief Minister’s own district, what we will say about other places,” said Behera.
Similarly, the Media Unity for Freedom of Press (MUFP), a body of journalists, expressed its deepest grief and serious concern over the incident.
The MUFP in a statement urged the Government to order for Crime Branch probe into the ghastly incident. “A Crime Branch probe can establish in clearest terms the motive behind the murder and find out if it was in any way linked with his professional life as a reporter,” the statement said. It called upon the Information and Public Relation department to consider granting an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh to Acharya’s widow and a job to an eligible member of the bereaved family.