Southern States - Kerala

Protest against `raid' on Surya TV

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM June 27. Various organisations have condemned the police `raid' on the Surya TV premises in the city and the interrogation of the News Editor, N.Sukumaran, and the Managing Director, C. Praveen, on Thursday afternoon.

The Thiruvananthapuram Press Club president, J. Ajith Kumar, and the secretary, K. Sreekantan, have described the `raid' as an act against the freedom of the press and demanded strong action against those involved in it. A protest meeting would be held at the Press Club Hall at 12 noon on June 28.

The Kerala Journalists Union (KJU) State president, Roy Mathew, said the `raid' was a move of the State Government to gain control over the media. Police have not behaved in such a brutal manner to the media even during the Emergency period. He alleged that important documents were forcefully taken away from the office. The entire action was carried out with the knowledge of the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, he said.

The State president of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ), K.G. Muralidharan, strongly opposed the police act. Though the union is not against conducting any legal action or inquiry, the move to use force cannot be justified. The district president, K. Kunhikannan, demanded a judicial probe into the incident.

The CPI State secretary, Veliyam Bhargavan, said that police entering media houses was undemocratic. This was with the knowledge of Mr.Antony, he said.

The BJP State secretary, M.S. Kumar, deplored the police act and said the attitude of the Chief Minister was similar to those during the days of Emergency.

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