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`Mangalam' daily office attacked, bureau chief beaten up
The office of Malayalam daily `Mangalam' was attacked and its bureau chief and photographer beaten up allegedly by some CPI(M) activists in Kannur.
The office of Malayalam daily `Mangalam' was attacked and its bureau chief and photographer beaten up allegedly by some CPI(M) activists in Kannur on Friday.
TK Joshi, bureau chief of the daily who was assaulted along with the photographer Krishnan Kanhirangad, said that a group of about 15 CPI-M workers barged into the office and asked them to close it down in response to a day-long hartal called by their party to protest the murder of a co-worker.
He said they beat him and Krishnan severely besides smashing glass panes and ransacking office furniture and equipment.
Both Joshi and Krishan were initially rushed to the district hospital but the photographer's condition was a bit serious and he was taken to the ICU of a private hospital.
Senior police officials rushed to the daily's office to record statements.
The CPI-M while calling for the hartal yesterday had kept vehicles and other essential services including the press out of the hartal purview.
The Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) strongly condemned the attack on the daily and asked the state government to take stringent action against those responsible for it.
"The attack on the Mangalam daily in Kannur is an affront on democratic values and traditions, KUWJ President PP Sasindran said.
