Date: 2025-05-30Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported merciless beating of a journalist while reporting the allegations of corruption at a construction site in Balangir district, Odisha
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, has taken suo motu cognizance of a reported incident in Balangir district, Odisha, where a journalist was allegedly assaulted while reporting on corruption allegations at a construction site on May 25, 2025. The NHRC has issued a notice to the Director General of Police, Odisha, requesting a detailed report on the matter within two weeks, citing concerns about potential human rights violations. The journalist was reportedly tied up, paraded, beaten, and threatened, with his equipment damaged.
Key Entities Referenced
National Human Rights Commission: A national human rights organization. Also referred to as NHRC, India.
NHRC, India: Acronym for National Human Rights Commission of India
Balangir district, Odisha: A district in the state of Odisha, India, where the alleged incident occurred.
Odisha DGP: The Director General of Police of Odisha, to whom a notice was issued.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi - likely the source of the press release.
Kulthipali village: A village in the Balangir district, Odisha, where the journalist was assaulted.
Director General of Police, Odisha: The head of the police force in Odisha, who is required to submit a report.
NSK Release ID: 2132791: Identification number of the Press Release
National Human Rights Commission
NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the
reported merciless beating of a journalist while
reporting the allegations of corruption at a
construction site in Balangir district, Odisha
Issues notice to the Odisha DGP calling for a
detailed report in the matter within two weeks
Posted On: 30 MAY 2025 5:34PM by PIB Delhi
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report
that a TV journalist was physically assaulted by a group of people in Kulthipali village in the Balangir district,
Odisha on 25th May, 2025. Reportedly, he was suddenly attacked by the miscreants when he went to a
construction site in the village, regarding which the people are making allegations of corruption. The victim’s
legs and hands were tied, and he was paraded through the village before being tied to a pole and mercilessly
beaten.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of
the human rights of the victim journalist. Therefore, it has issued a notice to the Director General of Police,
Odisha, calling for a detailed report in the matter within two weeks.
According to the media report, carried on 26th May, 2025, the victim’s mobile phones and video camera were
also smashed by the perpetrators, and he was threatened not to report anything about the incident or the
ongoing construction work to anyone.
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NSK
(Release ID: 2132791)