Journalist attacked in Greater Noida, SSP assures swift action
Journalists alleged that the police assured them swift action in the matter on Sunday evening but failed to make any arrest until Monday afternoon. After holding discussions with the journalists, SSP Love Kumar assured action at the earliest.
A group of 30-40 people, mostly journalists working in Greater Noida, gathered at the office of the senior superintendent of police (SSP) in Surajpur on Monday, demanding the immediate arrest of assailants, who had allegedly thrashed and fired at a fellow journalist on Sunday afternoon.
Journalists alleged that the police assured them swift action in the matter on Sunday evening but failed to make any arrest until Monday afternoon. After holding discussions with the journalists, SSP Love Kumar assured action at the earliest.
Anshuman Yadav, the correspondent of a Hindi news daily, who was attacked on Sunday, told Hindustan Times that one of the assailants had entered into an argument with him over a petty issue and then attacked him with the help of three others.
Yadav said, “Around 1pm, a person came to our office to enquire about a phone number. I did not have the phone number of the person he was enquiring about so I refused his request. He got infuriated and started shouting at the top of his voice. With help of some co-workers, I got him out of the office.”
As per the complaint, after a couple of hours, the man returned to Yadav’s workplace with three other men, wearing masks, and started thrashing him. “One of them even fired a shot in my direction. However, it did not hit me,” said Yadav.
“They overpowered me and started beating me. I fell unconscious for a few minutes before I was helped by some of my co-workers,” he said.
A fellow journalist, Saurabh Rai, who came to Yadav’s rescue on Sunday evening, told Hindustan Times that the police were initially reluctant to register an FIR, but later they took note of their complaint and assured swift action. “Even after providing the details of the assailant, including his residence, the police has failed to take him into custody. Hence, we had gathered at the SSP’s office to demand that the attackers are arrested immediately,” Rai said.