Mediapersons, both electronic and print, exhibited their anguish towards law and order situation of the country in general and Odisha in particular here on Friday. They registered their protest against the gang-rape of lady photojournalist of Mumbai through a memorandum to the President of India with a copy to Chief Minister of Odisha.
A group of scribes will meet the Rayagada Collector soon and apprise him of the fast-worsening law and order situation in the district and suggest probable solutions. President of District Press Union Nalini Pani said, “We are shocked and outraged regarding the photojournalist who was allegedly raped by five men on August 22 in the most horrific manner.” Dipak Kumar Prusty said, “We are convinced that rape is not the end of life and that she would like to continue in her profession.”
It was unanimously felt that the threat to journalists is both from the State and non-State actors. Hence, the mediapersons need to engage themselves united and continuously in societal issues as a means of self-defence in spite of difference over trivial issues. Dayananda Khadanga and Rabindra Patakhandala brought out several issues of working journalists and were delegated the responsibility to consolidate these issues to be projected on the Press Day on November 16. Jogesh Das hoped for a better solidarity among Rayagada journalists.