Scribes get beaten up in Kolkata

On February 28 this year, Kolkata witnessed the latest attack on journalists when Trinamool Congress (TMC) activists thrashed Partha Pratim Ghosh (24), a cameraman-reporter of ABP group’s Star Ananda at Jadavpur. Two other media persons were also beaten up. It was the day of a general strike called by CPM, and the party’s activists were campaigning zealously everywhere. The TMC activists attacked and ransacked CPM’s Zonal Office. Since Partha Pratim was taking shots, TMC cadres pounded on him, threw him to the ground and kicked and punched him mercilessly. They also damaged his bike. Subhasish Ghatak, a reporter of the Anandabazar Patrika, and Pintu Mondal, a photographer, were slapped repeatedly and hit with a chain. Meanwhile, policemen present nearby remained mute spectators. The episode continued for 10 minutes, after which the police intervened to rescue Ghosh and other scribes. They sent Ghosh to Patuli police station with the help of another biker. TMC activists chased that bike and raised slogans against Star Ananda.

Shockingly, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee termed this episode as ‘sajano ghatana’ (concocted incident), instead of ordering an enquiry. When she was told about the images captured by TV cameras, Mamata repeated: “Mithya katha shajiyechhen. Aapni shajiyechhen. (You concocted it. You did it).”

The following day, CPM took out a rally led by ex-Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. The TMC reacted to this gesture by taking out a counter rally of party activists led by a number of ministers. Mamata Banerjee, however, could not participate in this rally as she was in Darjeeling. What is perturbing here is that the threat is being issued openly through banners and slogans against those media persons who are criticising TMC and the Mamata administration.