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Palakkad: BJP workers ‘attack’ Kerala journalists
A group of media persons were on Tuesday allegedly attacked by some BJP workers at the Ottappalam court complex in Palakkad when police brought six party workers, arrested in connection with post-assembly poll clashes, to produce them in the court.
A group of media persons were on Tuesday allegedly attacked by some BJP workers at the Ottappalam court complex in Palakkad when police brought six party workers, arrested in connection with post-assembly poll clashes, to produce them in the court.
Four persons allegedly manhandled reporters and cameramen of television channels present at the court complex, objecting to them taking the visuals of the arrested BJP workers.
A senior reporter of a television newschannel said he was beaten up by the attackers who also destroyed the camera of another tv channel.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) and Congress condemned the attack and said BJP has become arrogant in the state as they were in power at the Centre and got one seat in May 16 assembly polls.
CPI(M) State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said he expects the government to take stern action against the persons responsible for the act.
“The RSS-BJP is trying to create a situation where in even free media functioning is not possible in the state,” he said, adding, “stern action is necessary to see that this kind of incidents never happened in the state in future.”
On the allegation that police remained spectators, Balakrishnan said “those police personnel who have not yet realised that government has changed in the state would know it soon.”
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala condemned the attack on media persons and wanted stern action against those involved.
President of Kerala Union of working journalists C Narayanan condemned the attack and said journalism has become an occupation which lacked any protection.
Palakkad BJP President C Krishnakumar said the incident happened as some outsiders tried to take pictures of BJP workers involved in the clash on mobile phone which led to a ‘scuffle’.
“BJP will never attack media persons deliberately,” he added.
Meanwhile, the court remanded the BJP workers, arrested in connection with the post-poll clashes between BJP and CPI(M) at Nellayi to judicial custody.
They were arrested after a raid near Vallapuzha railway gate in Palakkad early Tuesday morning.
