Bengal: Mobs attack vehicles of journalists covering election

Vehicles of several journalists covering the second phase of the Bengal election were allegedly attacked with bricks, bamboo sticks, and stones today.

Jahaan Sharma, an India TV cameraman, told Newslaundry they were following BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram when a mob surrounded them and started attacking them with stones. The crew kept protesting they were from the media and not any political party, but the mob wouldn’t listen, he added. His colleague, Pawan Nara, was injured in the attack.

Sharma claimed that when he refused to give his camera to the mob, they attacked him with stones. They left only after the police intervened.

In a separate incident, vehicles of mediapersons were attacked in Keshpur in Paschim Medinipur, India Today reported. A journalist was injured in this attack as well.

Some local TV news channels aired videos showing the vehicles being vandalised by a mob of men armed with sticks, stones, bricks. A video purportedly shows a journalist pleading with the men to let their vehicle pass.

The alleged attack reportedly took place soon after the vehicle of Tanmay Ghosh, BJP candidate in Keshpur, was vandalised. Three people have been arrested in connection with the incident.