Five journalists covering an outbreak of fire were allegedly beaten up by workers of a godown who did not want the mishap at their workplace reported, a police officer said here today.
The godown workers asked photojournalists, who reached the fire mishap spot, not to capture any images, a sub-inspector posted at Chotti Gwaltoli police station said.
However, after the journalists continued their work, nearly ten workers rained blows on them.
Five mediapersons including a senior journalist of a regional language TV channel has been injured, he said.
After the incident, a huge number of journalists staged a protest at the Regal Square alleging that policemen, including Chotti Gwaltoli police station in-charge inspector Virendra Pratap Sharma stood by as meek spectators, without protecting mediapersons.
To mollify journalists, Superintendent of Police (East) O P Tripathi reached the protest spot and assured them that those behind the attack would be be dealt with as per law.
He said that a senior police officer has been asked to probe the role of police inspector Sharma during the incident and file a report.
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Transport Minister and District Guardian In-charge Minister Bhupendra Singh deplored the attack on mediapersons.
"I have asked Indore Range Deputy Inspector General of Police to investigate the matter and take strict action against the culprits," he told reporters here.
After booking ten people for attacking mediapersons under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, a manhunt has been launched to arrest them, a police inspector said.
