Journalists of Cuttack city here on Friday unequivocally condemned the burning of copies of a vernacular daily newspaper by some State Government employees inside the office of the Tirtol BDO in Jagatsinghpur district on Thursday.
The Cuttack journalists termed it as an attempt to throttle the freedom of press by some tainted elements in the State Government, who are morally paralysed. Squarely blaming the State Government for being unable to tame its servants, the journalists held Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Revenue Minister SN Patro responsible for the unfortunate incident.
According to reports reaching here, the vernacular daily carried a news pertaining to the poor distribution of relief materials to cyclone affected people under Tirtol block. The report went on to say that local BDO Kishore Chandra Swain became incommunicado since October 13, the day after cyclone Phailin hit the State.
Although, the Govt had cancelled puja holidays and had specifically asked field officers to remain alert in carrying out the rescue and relief operation in affected areas, Swain apparently was not in his headquarters for which the relief operation in the area was hampered, the newspaper report said.
Sulking over such a report published in the daily, the BDO allegedly instigated his office staff to burn the copies of the newspaper in full public view inside the premises of his office, the newspaper further said. However, when contacted by this correspondent, Swain was profusely apologetic about the subsequent developments and went on to say that he was very much present in the headquarters and was performing his duties sincerely during these days as per the Government order.
When contacted, Jagatsinghpur Collector Satya Kumar Mallick said that he has already ordered for a report from the concerned BDO on this. “Burning of a copy of newspaper in full public view by the Government employees inside the premises of a Government concern was very unfortunate,“ Mallick said, adding that stringent action would be taken against the erring employees.