Two TV journalists were hospitalised with serious injuries Friday after they were attacked while covering a clash between two rival factions of the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district.
"An agitation protesting the murder of a Trinamool leader grew violent and two journalists who were covering the event were attacked. They have been hospitalised with serious injuries. We have arrested three people in this regard," Barrackpore Commissioner of Police Sanjay Singh said.
The incident occurred in Barrackpore when supporters of Trinamool leader Jitu Lal, who was murdered, Thursday clashed with a rival group. People carrying Trinamool flags later attacked the two journalists.
"Around 40-50 people attacked me with canes and bricks. They snatched my mobile phone and destroyed my camera," said Astik Chatterjee, who received serious head injuries.
While the Trinamool has denied involvement of its party workers, opposition flayed the ruling party for "attacking the media".
The Left Front wrote to Governor M.K. Narayanan seeking his intervention and a probe into the matter.
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"Just by carrying party flags people do not become Trinamool workers. There is a difference between party supporters and party workers. Trinamool is not involved in the attack," party general secretary Partha Chatterjee said.
Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Surjya Kanta Mishra condemned the incident and demanded immediate punishment to those responsible for the attack.
"We have written to the governor seeking his intervention. The Trinamool, which had been attacking our partymen, is now targeting others. Even the media is not being spared," said Mishra.
Congress MPs from the state, Deepa Dasmunshi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, condemned the incident and blamed the Trinamool. They demanded immediate arrest of the guilty.