Three held for assaulting journalists in West Midnapore

KOLKATA - Three alleged Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activists were arrested for assaulting six journalists in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district, police said Saturday.

“We have arrested three people of Buripala village involved in assaulting the journalists Friday and also snatching their belongings. All the three will be interrogated to nab the others involved in the case,” West Midnapore’s Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma said.

“The accused - Saktipada Mahato, Ajit Mahato and Panchanan Mahato - were later presented before the Midnapore city magistrate’s court and remanded in 14 days judicial custody,” he said.

The police chief, however, said that he had no information about the trio’s political antecedents.

“We are yet to verify their political identity,” said Verma.

The villagers of Buripala said that the accused are active supporters of the CPI-M.

“All the three are full-time members of the CPI-M’s Pirakata local committee,” said a villager, pleading anonymity.

A senior police officer said the journalists who were beaten up severely lodged a complaint following which the trio was detained last night.

The journalists had lodged a complaint against Madhusudhan Mahato, secretary of CPI-M Pirakata local Committee, and Jagannath Mahato, leader of Salboni area and others, said the police officer.

“We are investigating the matter and all the accused will be arrested soon,” Verma told IANS over phone.

At least six journalists and photo-journalists of two national news channels and one daily newspaper were assaulted Friday by alleged CPI-M activists at Buripala near Pirakanta, while they were returning from Trinamool Congress leader Arati Baskey’s house in Choto Kalshibangha of Lalgarh.

Baskey’s house was damaged by the alleged CPI-M activists two days back.