Bhubaneswar, Dec 14 (IANS) Hundreds of journalists in Orissa Monday protested against increasing police atrocities against media persons in different parts of the state since the past few months.
In a convention organised under the banner of ‘Media Unity for Freedom’ here, journalists from different parts of the state condemned the police action against various media persons including against Laxman Choudhury, a reporter with Oriya daily Sambad.

Choudhury was arrested Sep 21 from Mohana area in Gajapati district after a packet containing Maoist leaflets addressed to him was recovered from a bus conductor.

Choudhury, who had to stay in judicial custody for over two months before he was granted bail by the Orissa high court Dec 1, was felicitated at the convention for his tireless struggle for justice.

The convention also blamed the police for not arresting the culprits who attacked a journalist at temple city of Puri few weeks ago. Several senior journalists cited examples how journalists were allegedly being harassed by police and administration in various part of the state without any reason.

The convention decided to observe Dec 14 as the “Free Press Day” every year across the state and decided to respond immediately to any threat or attack against any working journalist in the state.

Some politicians, editors, social activists and lawyers also participated in the convention and expressed solidarity with the journalists.