Division Commissioner to submit report today

South Chhotanagpur Commissioner KK Khandelal, instructed by Chief Minister Raghubar Das to probe into the incident of attack on photojournalist which took place on Wednesday, is likely to submit his report on Friday. Das had asked Khandelwal to submit a detailed report after probing into the alleged attack on the Photo Journalist Manoranjan Singh by a Government employee in connivance with the goons of a contractor, late in the evening on Wednesday.

“The enquiry has been completed and the report is being typed. As soon as the typing gets completed, I will submit it to the CM,” said Khandelwal. It was difficult to reach any conclusion as the statements recorded by the opposite sides were completely contradictory to each other, said Khandelwal. As there were no scientific equipments like CCTV or anything fitted on the premises, it is more difficult to corroborate their statements, added Khandelwal.

According to Khandelwal, others versions are similar while the version of Manorajan is just opposite to them which it is making it more difficult to reach any conclusion. “I have recommended the matter for further investigations by other government agencies,” he added.It is worth mentioning that some goons present in the chamber of Building Construction department Executive Engineer Pradeep Kumar Singh alongwith the contractors brutally thrashed photo Journalist Manoranjan Singh on Wednesday while he had gone there to cover protest of the leaders of Aadivasi Moolwasi Vikas Morcha.

Manorajan, after being thrashed by sticks and beer-bottles became totally unconscious. Moreover, the goons also snatched his camera and mobile phones and kept Manoranjan captive for over two hours, which was reported to the newspaper office by some of the commoners present at the spot. According to Manoranjan, the Executive Engineer, after calling SDO Amit Kumar on the spot, also threatened the Photo Journalist of lodging a complaint against him.

Meanwhile, the attack on Ranchi based photojournalist gathered all round condemnation from the political corridors across the party line. Coming in support of the photojournalist, some of the political parties even burnt the effigies of the state government and staged protest against the fourth pillar of democracy.

Congress party, protesting against the decreasing law and order situation, raised slogans against the Raghubar Das Government. BJP on the other hand, has also condemned the incident but at the same time has lauded the decision taken by Chief Minister Raghubar Das to order probe into the matter.