PCI panel completes sitting

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, SEPT. 2. The fact-finding committee of the Press Council of India (PCI), which is looking into the attack on journalists here, today completed its sitting with an observation that the ``police could have been more forthcoming'' in its deposition before the committee.

Some journalists from smaller publications had ``expressed their apprehension'' that they would be ``marked'' by the police for deposing before the committee. This, the committee said, was ``a matter of grave concern'' and noted that the police should work towards dispelling such fears.

The Director General of Police, Mr. A. Ravindranath, and the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner, Mr. K. Muthukaruppan, deposed before the committee today, but said they were not in a position to make available any video evidence since the incident was being looked into by a Commission appointed by the State Government.

Mr. Muthukaruppan said that a private satellite television channel, Sun TV, ``started inciting violence'' by televising ``selective clippings'' of the arrest of the DMK president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi. ``There were 116 cases of stoning public transport and 93 other incidents, including throwing of petrol bombs on the residence of AIADMK leaders,'' he said.

When the committee requested that the video recorded by the police on August 12 (during the DMK rally) be made available to it, the police officers declined and said they had to present this before a State Government Commission of Inquiry. Also, a departmental enquiry was on.

``We do not justify the police action (on media persons). I had expressed my regret on that day itself,'' Mr. Muthukaruppan said. Asked if a ``carpet lathicharge'' was ordered, the Commissioner said that he ``could not say'' anything, but later admitted that the lathicharge on the processionists was planned. ``It was a planned dispersal of the crowd.'' How this resulted in the attack on the journalists was ``a matter of enquiry.''

The DGP described the attack on the presspersons as ``unfortunate'' and said the police had to intervene when the processionists tried to force their way into his office.

The committee was of the view that the police could have made available the video evidence, so that the ``missing links'' in the story could have been filled.

Earlier, the Committee convenor, Mr. Hari Jai Singh, and member, Mr.R. Venkataraman, met the former Chief Minister, Mr. Karunanidhi, at his Oliver Road residence. Both described the visit as ``personal.'' Mr. Karunanidhi explained the incidents during the night of June 29 and early on June 30 and also exhibited a video recording of the events.

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