West Bengal Municipality Elections: Journalists attacked by mob led by TMC leader

Written By Pooja Mehta | Updated: Oct 03, 2015, 03:40 PM IST

Mintu Basak

On repeated requests from the reporters, police officers present at the spot, remained mute spectator

Three Zee 24 Ghanta journalists were attacked at Bidhannagar’s ward 33 while covering the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation polls on Saturday.

A mob led by Trinamool Congress leader Sujit Basu pelted stones at Zee 24 Ghanta reporter Bikram Das. Cameraperson Mintu Basak was hit on the head with a helmet by Trinamool Congress supporters. Cameras and other equipments were vandalised by the miscreants led by the Trinamool Congress leader.

Basak has been rushed to the state-run Bidhannagar hospital with serious head injuries.

Also Read: LIVE Update West Bengal Municipality Elections: Widespread violence reported, media attacked

A female reporter of the same media house was surrounded by an unruly mob and was threatened that she would be taken into a car and raped any moment. They constantly hurled abuses at her, it was only then that reporters of other media houses escorted her, she returned to a safe place.

This apart, three journalists of ABP Ananda – Aritrik Bhattacharya, Partha Sarathi Chakraborty and Prakash Sinha were also attacked by the same mob. Bhattacharya and Chakraborty have suffered serious injuries.

Sujit Basu and other Trinamool Congress leaders have cordoned off the area and are preventing them from entering it.

On repeated requests from the reporters, police officers present at the spot, remained mute spectators. Police officers turned a blind eye and did not rush to help reporters who were being beaten up right in front of them. Senior IPS officers of the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate refused to help injured reporters despite receiving several frantic and distressed calls.