Those responsible for the attack on the three mediapersons who had gone to cover alleged factional clashes between Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers should be brought to book, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said.
"The CM has given instructions to police to nab those (guilty of) assaulting the media personnel," TMC leader and state industries minister Partha Chatterjee told PTI.
The CM has also wished a speedy recovery to the injured journalists and assured them of government help in their treatment, Chatterjee added.
Banerjee's comments came hours after three lensmen for local television news channels were attacked with iron rods and sticks by some people who were carrying TMC flags.
The trio had gone to Barrackpore to cover reported clashes between rival TMC factions following the killing early today of one person in the area. Police did not confirm whether the murdered person belonged to TMC.
The alleged TMC workers also ransacked the house of a local party leader, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Subhankar Bhattacharjee said, adding that the three lensmen were beaten up when they went to the house of the said leader.
The ADCP said that three persons have been arrested for the attack on the lensmen.
"Be it a common man or a journalist, we don't support any attacks on them. The attackers will be arrested," said Chatterjee, who is also the party general secretary.
"Carrying the party's flag does not make someone a TMC member," he added, rejecting charges that the attack on the lensmen had been carried out by TMC workers.
Meanwhile, the Press Club of Kolkata has condemned today's attack.
"We are shocked to learn about the assault on journalists of ABP Ananda, 24 Ghanta and Kolkata TV allegedly by TMC workers," club secretary Anindya Sengupta said.
