Journalists associations condemn attack on reporters in Bangalore

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Mar 3, 2012: The Dakshina Kannada Working Journalists’ Union (DKWJU) and the Television Journalists’ Union (TJU) organized a silent protest march from the Clock Tower to the DC’s office on March 3 Saturday, condemning the attack on journalists in the premises of a Bangalore civil court on Thursday morning. 

The protestors held black flags and wore black ribbons on their arms, faces, and foreheads. They demanded that the state government must take stern action against these lawyers and provide protection to journalists.

Tharanath Kapikad, the bureau chief of Janashree Channel, said that the attack on journalists by lawyers should be condemned. He said that the lawyers not only attacked journalists, but also police officers on duty and pelted stones on vehicles. They have injured at least 20 journalists and police officers, he added. Stating that journalists have always supported lawyers, he said that the lawyers have shown their ungratefulness by attacking them when they were on duty. 

DKWJU President Harish Rai said that working journalists in Bangalore will organize a rally in front of the CM’s office to protest against this assault on journalists. 

Speaking on the occasion, Ravindra Shetty, the former president of the DKWJU, said that there is no use requesting an inquiry because lawyers are involved in this case. He said that the case must be handed over to the CBI. He also said that the journalists will fight till they get justice. 

P. B. Harish Rai, the president of the DKWJU; Shrinivas Nayak Indaje, its secretary; Shivasharan, the director of Namma TV; Leelaksh Karkera, the MD of Namma Kudla; and many others participated in this protest. 

More than a 100 journalists from the visual and print media participated in this protest. Promoters of local television channels such as V4, Namma TV, and others also extended their support.