Date: 2025-09-03Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported attack on a journalist by a drug addict in Nabarangpur district, Odisha for filing a complaint against him
**Summary:**
On September 3, 2025, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, took *suo motu* cognizance of a media report concerning an attack on a journalist in the Nabarangpur district of Odisha on August 29, 2025. The journalist was reportedly stabbed multiple times by a drug addict in retaliation for filing a complaint against the assailant. The victim is currently hospitalized in critical condition. Considering the potential violation of human rights, the NHRC has issued a notice to the Director General of Police (DGP), Odisha, requesting a detailed report within two weeks. This report should include the status of the investigation and the health condition of the injured journalist. The incident, reported on August 30, 2025, has generated significant public concern. (Release ID: 2163293).
Key Entities Referenced
National Human Rights Commission: A human rights organization in India that took cognizance of the attack on the journalist.
Nabarangpur district, Odisha: The district in Odisha where the attack on the journalist occurred.
Director General of Police, Odisha: The official to whom the NHRC issued a notice, requesting a report on the incident.
Odisha: The State in India where the incident took place.
Papadahandi area, Nabarangpur district, Odisha: Specific area where the journalist was attacked.
Journalist: The victim of the attack, whose human rights were potentially violated.
National Human Rights Commission
NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the
reported attack on a journalist by a drug addict in
Nabarangpur district, Odisha for filing a complaint
against him
Issues notices to the DGP, Odisha, calling for a
report within two weeks
Posted On: 03 SEP 2025 2:18PM by PIB Delhi
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report
that on 29th August, 2025 in the Papadahandi area of Nabarangpur district, Odisha, a journalist sustained
multiple stab wounds in an attack by a drug addict for filing a complaint against him. Reportedly, the victim
journalist has been hospitalised in critical condition.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of
human rights. Accordingly, it has issued a notice to the Director General of Police, Odisha, calling for a
detailed report on the matter within two weeks. The report is expected to include the status of the investigation
as well as the health condition of the injured journalist.
According to the media report, carried on 30th August, 2025, the incident has sparked outrage among
journalists and residents of the area.
***
NSK
(Release ID: 2163293)