Varanasi scribes protest attack on media

Journalists in Varanasi on Friday took to the streets to protest against the assault on journalists by Janata Dal (United) MLA Anant Singh and his supporters.

Varanasi, Nov 3 : Journalists in Varanasi on Friday took to the streets to protest against the assault on journalists by Janata Dal (United) MLA Anant Singh and his supporters.

Slogan-shouting journalists called for a clear-cut policy to protect journalists from such acts of hooliganism.

"We request the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh to issue some guidelines and ways to utilise the right to information, in order to collect news. We condemn the attack on journalists. I request the entire journalist community to unite and face such forces," Pappu Mishra, a journalist, said.

Three television journalists were assaulted by Anant Singh and four of his associates after they had gone to the politician's residence for a reaction in connection with a case of rape and murder of a woman.

Asian News International cameraperson Ajay Kumar, NDTC correspondent Prakash Singh and his cameraman Habib Ali were injured in the incident.

It all started on Thursday when Prakash Singh went to Anant Singh's residence to get his reaction to a story on the recovery of the body of a dead woman near Patna's Patel Nagar area.

Supporters of Anant Singh, who were 20-25 in number, attacked the mediapersons, broke their cameras, watches and mobile phones.

The journalists were reportedly held captive for two hours. They managed to escape only after the arrival of the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) on the scene.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered a CBI probe against Anant Singh and his associates.

They have been remanded to judicial custody till November 13. They are lodged in the high security Beur Jail.

ANI