Journalist held for Maoist links freed

In his order,Justice C R Das said Choudhury might have got several such leaflets due to the nature of his job. If he had any nexus with the Maoists,then he would not have opened the envelope before the police. There is no incriminating evidence on record to suggest that he has any nexus with Maoists, the judge said. The HC ordered that Choudhury be released immediately after he submits a cash surety of Rs 20,000. However,the bus conductor,Pradeep Kumar Patra,who carried the envelope and facing the same charges as Choudhury,is yet to be freed.

Choudhurys colleagues in Gajapati said Choudhury was a victim of the vendetta campaign of a few corrupt cops. He paid the price for writing against the misdeeds of the local police, said his colleague Rupesh Sahoo. Senior journalist Prasanta Patnaik said the court order was heartening. This is the beginning of a new battle against oppressive authorities, he said.