Journalists up in arms against Dhenkanal District Information & Public Relations Officer

Dhenkanal: Hundreds of journalists of Dhenkanal district gheraoed the district information & public relations office demanding the transfer of the district information and public relations officer (DIPRO) Hemant Kumar Nayak for his alleged misbehavior.

According to sources, the journalists gheraoed the office alleging DIPRO’s dictatorial attitude and misbehavior towards the senior scribes in the district.

It is alleged that the DIPRO had misbehaved with senior journalists during selection of scribes for poll reporting.

As per reports, the journalists had informed the district collector in this regard and a meeting was held with the DIPRO and the newsmen. As no steps have been taken so far, we were forced to gherao the office, the protestors said.

Following the protest, Dhenkanal Sadar SDPO, Town Police Station IIC, additional Collector and the Project Director reached the office and held discussions with the journalists.

“The role of the DIRPO is to create a bridge between the administration and the journalists, but here, the officer is harassing the journalists. To whom will we inform, while the DIPRO misbehaves with us? ” said Prashanna Patnaik, a senior journalist.

“We demand the transfer of the DIPRO,” Patnaik added.

“There is a communication gap between the DIPRO and the journalists. We always try to maintain cordial relationship and co-ordination with the mediapersons. We are looking into the matter and will resolve the issue soon,” said Dhenkanal ADM Purnachandra Mishra.