New Delhi, May 28, 2025—Indian authorities must hold to account the attackers who brutally beat journalist Bijay Pradhan and ensure press members can safely do their jobs, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday.
“Journalist Bijay Pradhan’s brutal attack is yet another grave reminder of the growing dangers faced by local journalists across India, particularly those targeted in the eastern state of Odisha,” said CPJ India Representative Kunāl Majumder. “Authorities must ensure a swift and impartial investigation and bring those responsible to justice.”
Pradhan, a reporter with the privately-held Odia-language news outlet Bada Khabar, was tied up and brutally beaten by a group of men on May 23 while reporting on alleged irregularities in a local construction project in the Kulthipali village of Bolangir district. A video of the assault widely shared on social media, shows Pradhan being kicked and dragged by a group. The assault went on for two hours and resulted in the rupture of his right eardrum. He is undergoing treatment for his injuries in Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital, Pradhan told CPJ.
Pradham said his attackers also snatched his mobile phone, on which he had recorded the incident, his microphone, and other equipment to stop him from reporting.
Five individuals named in the official complaint including the prime suspect have been arrested. They are being investigated for charges including assault, voluntarily causing hurt (including by dangerous means), misappropriation, theft, and property damage.
News reports quoted a senior police officer saying “the contractor involved in the retaining wall construction may have instigated the assault” and that his “involvement is under thorough investigation.” However, Pradhan told CPJ he fears he could be targeted again if he resumes field reporting.
CPJ has documented multiple attacks in Odisha on journalists such as Jyotiranjan Mohapatra, Pratap Patra, Tarun Kumar Acharya—including murder, physical assault, and targeted violence explicitly linked to their reporting on sensitive topics such as sand mining, child labor, and local corruption.
CPJ’s requests for comment sent to Abilash G., the superintendent of police in the Bolangir district, did not receive any reply.
This content originally appeared on Committee to Protect Journalists and was authored by CPJ Staff.