The Buguda police have arrested three journalists for allegedly threatening and trying to extort money from a Block Education Officer in Ganjam district.
The accused are identified as reporters Alok Gouda of OTV, Manoj Kumar Ghadai of ‘Bada Khabar’ and Kalia Padhi of ‘Prameya’. They have been booked under Sections 353, 385, 506, 507 and 34 of IPC.
As per an FIR lodged by Buguda BEO Rasananda Kar, the three reporters came to his office on October 16 when he was monitoring school cleanliness of Takarada cluster. They started reporting regarding the absence of the BEO at the office without communicating with the official.
Being informed by the staffers about the incident, the BEO reached the office and discussed the matter with the three reporters.
Later, they demanded Rs 50,000 from Kar by threatening him to report negative news regarding him, the BEO alleged.