#PanchayatElection: Five local journalists injured, media van torched

News today has been dominated by violence in West Bengal during the Panchayat elections —  over 38,000 seats across 20 districts are up for contest. Journalists covering the polls have also come under attack. 

ANI reported that a media vehicle in Bhangar was set on fire and a camera was also broken. Furthermore, the media was not given permission to enter the area. In North 24 Parganas district over 10 people were injured in a low-intensity blast at a polling station. 

According to news reports, five regional journalists were injured after violence broke out in Birpara. They were admitted to the local hospital. These journalists had gone to report on instances of booth capturing allegedly by All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers.

Partha Chatterjee of TMC condemned the attack on journalists. He claimed that the voting process has been peaceful and that no major incidents were reported.

The official handle of TMC quoted Derek O’ Brien.

To which Naveen Kapoor, national bureau chief, ANI replied, “ You are blaming ANI, blaming BSF, India. It will be better if you introspect and get to the bottom. Act against culprits and stop blame game”. ANI chief editor also rubbished this charge.

Back in April, a group of journalists covering the filing of nomination papers for panchayat polls in South 24 Parganas were assaulted. This included reporters and cameramen from The Times of India as well as from The Indian Express.  Journalists took to Twitter and condemned the latest instances of violence in West Bengal. Some questioned why there had not been enough reportage on the violence in mainstream media.