Paying the price for professional integrity

A senior reporter working in the  Kollam bureau of Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi, V. B. Unnithan is another victim of attacks on media persons. He was waylaid by a gang and beaten to pulp at Sasthamcotta on April 16, 2011. He narrowly escaped this murder attempt with multiple fractures in his legs, hands and ribs, and had to remain bed-ridden in hospital for six months. It took him another seven to eight months to recoup.

Unnithan was paying the price for his professional integrity. Defying pressures, he had filed a story about vigilance questioning of the then Ezhukon Circle Inspector (CI) Santhosh Nair and Punalur CI Iqbal, on their efforts to construct a resort in violation of coastal zone protection laws. The second report was on a liquor party hosted at Kollam guest house where police officers, film actors and politicians were served liquor, besides being supplied women on October 11, 2009. The party was organised by a toddy shop contractor in which four police officers, including Santhosh Nair, were present. The report created a furore and the officers had to be transferred.

The local and national media however showed full solidarity with Unnithan. The Kerala Union of Working Journalists held relentless agitations for strong action against the perpetrators of the crime. All political parties stood behind Unnithan as well. Mathrubhumi and its Managing Director, too, were supportive. Faced with such strong opposition, the government handed over the probe to Crime Branch. Prime accused Santhosh, a businessman; Santhosh Nair and six others were arrested in connection with the attack. Santhosh Nair was jailed for three months and is under suspension. All the eight accused are on parole now.

“The attack was masterminded by a quotation gang. Container Santhosh had entrusted Happy Rajesh to carry out the attack. Surprisingly, Happy Rajesh was found murdered on April 28, 12 days after the incident. The Crime Branch version was that he was done to death following a gang rivalry related to a car burning to divert attention. He was the only person who had first hand information about the persons behind the quotation. It will soon be one year since the incident took place, but no charge sheet has been filed yet,’’ Unnithan told TSI.

Disgusted over the way the Crime Branch was handling the case, media persons made a hue and cry for handing over the case to CBI. “It is strange that the investigation officer of Crime Branch, DIG S. Sreejith, has not met me even once for a statement,’’ Unnithan said. The Kerala Union of Working Journalists also strongly demanded a CBI probe. But it was only under the influence of Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who visited Unnithan, that the case was handed over to the CBI. “The case is now under CBI’s Chennai unit Additional SP Jayakumar. It is learnt that the investigation is on the right track,’’ Unnithan said.

He added, “Mine is a landmark case in many ways. It is the first time that the CBI is investigating a case involving an attack on a journalist. Also, this case showed that media cannot be cowed down by threats.” The High Court was very critical of the nexus between quotation teams and the police. “Consequently, the state government enacted rules to terminate the services of policemen with criminal connections,’’ he added.