The Hindu : National : The Hindu journalists attacked near Bangalore

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 21, 2004

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National

The Hindu journalists attacked near Bangalore

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, APRIL 20. A reporter and a photographer of The Hindu , Bangalore were roughed up by a mob at Jadagenahalli in Hoskote taluk of Bangalore rural district on Tuesday. The vehicle hired by them for election coverage was damaged.

The Hindu team on election assignment, received information about a tense situation at Jadagenahalli on Malur Road. It reached the village at 1.15 p.m. and V. Sreenivasa Murthy, photographer, captured on film a mob in front of the polling booth there. The mob was having an altercation and police were attempting to disperse it.

When the mob saw the journalists they rushed towards their vehicle, pulled Mr. Murthy out, pinned him to the ground and kicked him. They snatched his digital camera, camera bag, gold chain, wristwatch and mobile phone.

Although Mr. Murthy and K.V. Subramanya, reporter, identified themselves as members of the press, the mob did not spare them. When Mr. Subramanya attempted to escape, he was chased by another group, which pushed him down and kicked him. They tore his shirt and one of them tried to strangle him with a telephone cord. Some people intervened and stopped the attempt.

By then, police had rescued Mr. Murthy and escorted him away from the village. A couple of villagers took Mr. Murthy on a motorcycle to the vehicle, which the driver had moved away during the violence.

The villagers returned Mr. Murthy's camera and wristwatch. The mob had removed the memory chip from the camera.

As the two were waiting for the return of their belongings, one miscreant came in a vehicle that sported stickers and flags of the Janata Dal (Secular). He threatened both.

Since entry to the village was blocked, the team took a detour via Kolar, went to the Hoskote Police Station and lodged a complaint.

JD(S) regrets attack

The Janata Dal (Secular) has expressed regrets for the attack by its activists on the reporter and photographer of The Hindu.

The party general secretary and media coordinator, T. Prabhakar, and the general secretary and spokesman, M.V. Srinagesh, said: "We have great respect for the media and freedom of the press and we apologise for the attack on your team. We strongly condemn this incident and will be making an investigation from our end and promise to take action against those involved."

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