Bhubaneswar, March 15, 2010: A large number of members of MUFP family who met under the "Freedom Tree" here on Monday, unanimously condemned the unwarranted raid in the house of journalist and writer Mr. Dandapani Mohapatra at Chungudikhol in Ganjam district on March, 11, without any search warrant, while Mohapatra was away from home.
Mohapatra is also the General Secretary of Dakhina Odisha Sahitya Sammilani since over past 25 years, and is known for his free thinking and raising voice against corruption and nepotism in the society and administration through his writings.
Mohapatra, who was present at the MUFP meeting narrated how five van loads of police belonging to five police stations, reached his home and virtually terrorised his family members and broke open all the boxes and packets containing books, newspapers and personal documents. They seized some old copies of "Ghadaghadi" magazine (now defunct) and some other magazines, which he had collected and preserved in his personal library. Then the police forced his only son Gautam Buddha Mohapatra to sign on some plain papers . The local Sarpanch was also asked to sign on some plain papers.
During the raid one police officer said that Mohapatra's house was raided because of his links with Naxal leaders.
While returning after conducting the raids for around five hours, the S.D.P.O. Chhatrapur, who was leading the police team, asked Mohapatra's son to ensure that his father should meet him at Chhatrapur immediately failing which he would have to face serious consequences.
The members of the MUFP felt that this was a deliberate attempt by the police to harass and terrorise the media persons and writers with an intention to shield free flow of news and information, which is a very dangerous phenomenon.
Mohapatra is also the General Secretary of Dakhina Odisha Sahitya Sammilani since over past 25 years, and is known for his free thinking and raising voice against corruption and nepotism in the society and administration through his writings.
Mohapatra, who was present at the MUFP meeting narrated how five van loads of police belonging to five police stations, reached his home and virtually terrorised his family members and broke open all the boxes and packets containing books, newspapers and personal documents. They seized some old copies of "Ghadaghadi" magazine (now defunct) and some other magazines, which he had collected and preserved in his personal library. Then the police forced his only son Gautam Buddha Mohapatra to sign on some plain papers . The local Sarpanch was also asked to sign on some plain papers.
During the raid one police officer said that Mohapatra's house was raided because of his links with Naxal leaders.
While returning after conducting the raids for around five hours, the S.D.P.O. Chhatrapur, who was leading the police team, asked Mohapatra's son to ensure that his father should meet him at Chhatrapur immediately failing which he would have to face serious consequences.
The members of the MUFP felt that this was a deliberate attempt by the police to harass and terrorise the media persons and writers with an intention to shield free flow of news and information, which is a very dangerous phenomenon.
While condemning the police action, the MUFP demanded that the Government should use caution while dealing with media persons and writers and should not harass them physically and mentally in such manner, unless they have enough of evidence against any one. Government should try to realise from the case relating to arrest of Mohana based journalist Laxman Chaudhury under false and baseless allegations about his "Naxal link" for exposing misdeeds of the local police, and subsequently the Inspector-in-Charge Mohana police station has been caught red-handed and arrested by the vigilance sleuths for taking bribe from an illegal ganja trader.
