5 held for assaulting journalist, father in Katiapara

 

 

 

City Kotwali Police here have arrested five persons in connection with the brutal assault on a photojournalist and his father in Katiapara locality late Friday night. The police also conducted a public parade of the accused in the area to allay fear among residents and assert the rule of law. The injured, Shekhar Gupta and his father Ashok Gupta, are currently undergoing treatment at Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS). Their condition is reported to be stable.

 

According to police, the incident occurred when Shekhar, son of Ashok Gupta and a resident of Katiapara, returned home from work and objected to a group of local miscreants who had parked their vehicles haphazardly outside his house. The verbal argument soon escalated, and the accused attacked Shekhar with blunt and sharp weapons. Hearing his son's cries, Ashok Gupta rushed to the spot to help but was also assaulted. The miscreants reportedly hurled abuses at other family members and threatened to eliminate them. Following the serious nature of the assault, SSP Rajnesh Singh constituted a team which swiftly launched a combing operation in the area.

 

The accused, Rahul Singh (24), Shubham Soni (26), Mithilesh Singh (25), Rohan Sahu (19), and Kavyanshu Binobiya (21) – were rounded up and brought to the police station. The weapons used in the attack were also recovered. During interrogation, the accused confessed to the crime and disclosed their involvement in other criminal activities. Police have registered an offence against them under Sections 333, 296, 115(2), 351(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), and further investigations are underway. A search is on for other suspects who remain absconding.