Undertrial tries to attack magistrate in Odisha with knife, overpowered

Berhampur police superintendent Vivek Saravana said that Bhagaban Sahoo held the knife close to the magistrate Pragyan Paramita Pratihari’s neck for almost 10 seconds

Updated on: Nov 29, 2022, 09:42:03 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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A 51-year-old undertrial in at least four cases, including sexual harassment, tried to attack a judicial magistrate with a knife during court proceedings at Berhampur in Odisha.

The undertrial is an accused in at least four cases. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Berhampur police superintendent Vivek Saravana said that Bhagaban Sahoo held the knife close to the magistrate Pragyan Paramita Pratihari’s neck for almost 10 seconds on Monday. “But before he could harm the magistrate; she jumped from her podium with help from one of the lawyers and court staffer. Other court employees gathered and disarmed Sahoo,” said Saravana.

He added that Sahoo suddenly climbed the podium before he was overpowered. Sahoo was later taken to a police station and interrogated about the reason for trying to attack the magistrate. “He did not give any reason and behaved like an abnormal person. We have now arrested him on the attempt to murder charges. We are also strengthening security measures in the court,” said Saravana.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More