‘I am not afraid of BJP’: woman cameraperson assaulted by BJP members when covering #Sabarimala protests

A woman journalist was assaulted by protesting Bharatiya Janata Party workers yesterday in Thiruvanathapuram. Shajila Ali Fathima, a cameraperson with Kairali TV, had been covering the state-wide protest against the entry of two women of menstrual age into Sabarimala temple.

According to Dool News, Shajila said she had been shooting images of BJP workers attacking other mediapersons and tearing down flexboards when they attacked her. Images and videos of Shajila continuing to shoot despite the attack have been shared on social media.

Dool News reports Shajila as saying, “I am not afraid of the BJP. I will continue to cover BJP demonstrations … Perhaps these people don’t like seeing women in public.” Shajila says a BJP leader later called her to apologise.

Violent protests erupted across Kerala after two women in their 40s, Bindu and Kanakadurga, entered the temple yesterday at 3.45 am. The temple was later closed for “purification”. One man died late last night in an incident of stone-pelting during the protests. A day-long hartal has been called today.