Iyer Mitra's counsel seeks security from Odisha police

A day after Supreme Court refused to grant extension of bail to journalist Abhijit Iyer Mitra, his counsel Friday sought security from Odisha Police to appear before the Assembly House committee.

A six-member Asembly House Committee had summoned Iyer Mitra to appear before it on October 11 here for the alleged breach of privilege and derogatory remarks by him against Odisha and the Sun Temple in Konark.

Puri superintendent of police Sarthak Sarangi said that Abhijit Iyer Mitras lawyer has in an email sought security from the police for him.

"His counsel has informed that Iyer Mitra will attend House Committee on October 11 and sought protection. We have forwarded the mail to Bhubaneswar deputy commissioner of police on jurisdictional point of view," Sarangi told PTI.

Iyer Mitra was arrested and subsequently granted bail by a Delhi Court on September 20. He had been booked under different sections of the IPC including 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on the ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc) and 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.)