A journalist was killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast targeting security personnel in Odisha’s Kalahandi district on Saturday, according to a police officer.
The IED detonated when Rohit Kumar Biswal, a reporter-turned-photographer for a leading Odia daily based in Bhubaneswar, approached a tree where Maoists had placed a couple of posters and a banner urging people to boycott the five-phase panchayat polls set to begin later this month.
“When such posters are seen, the police have a SOP (standard operating procedure) in place to deal with the situation, as there is a possibility that IEDs targeting security forces have been planted there. Our team was notified, but the unfortunate incident occurred before we arrived.” Dr. Vivek, Superintendent of Police for the district of Kalahandi said.
He said the 46-year-old reporter got close to the tree before police searched the area with a metal detector for planted IEDs and died on the spot after the explosion.
The posters were affixed to the tree, and the banner was hung nearby near Domkarlakhunta village and near a bridge in Madanpur Rampur block. There were no more IEDs on the scene, according to the police.
According to sources, a joint CRPF-police investigation has begun.
The journalist’s wife, son, and daughter survive him.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a financial assistance package worth Rs. 13 lakh for his family. The Odisha Police will contribute 9 lakh, with the remaining 4 lakh coming from the Journalist Welfare Fund, according to Manas Mangaraj, the state government’s media advisor.
“Violence has no place in a democratic society. I strongly condemn the incident, and the state government will take firm action against those responsible for the journalist’s death “The chief minister took to Twitter.
He also expressed his condolences to Biswal’s family.
Baijyant Panda, the BJP’s national vice-president, also expressed his condolences for the killing.
“The assassination of journalist Rohit Biswal by Maoists in Odisha is heartbreaking. All of you idealistic young students and Liberals are well aware that leftists have killed nearly 100 million people, far more than any other group in history. Keep this in mind whenever you hear someone praise the Left or say Lal Salaam. Shanti, Om, “He stated this in a Twitter post without further elaboration.
Prasanna Mohanty, President of the Odisha Union of Journalists, condemned the incident and demanded adequate compensation for Biswal’s family.
The organisation also sought adequate security for scribes working in districts dominated by Left Wing Extremism.
Prasanta Patnaik