Another crackdown on media in Kerala, this time by Kozhikode cops
Synopsis
The trouble began when the police asked the journos to vacate the court premises. Kozhikode town CI later apologised for the police action and the media persons were freed
Despite Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's assurance that the freedom of the press would be protected, a group of media persons were evicted and later taken into custody from Kozhikode court premises on Saturday morning.
Asianet News Kozhikode bureau chief Binua Raj, cameraman Abhilash, DSNG engineer Arun and driver Jayaprakash were taken into custody by the police without any provocation.
The action came as a complete surprise to the journos who had gathered here to report the sensational Kozhikode ice cream parlor case. The court was to consider a review petition filed by CPM veteran V.S. Achuthanandan in the case.
Also Read: Kerala Lawyers go berserk again: many injured in violence, media vehicles attacked
Justifying their action, the police said they were acting upon the district judge's order not to allow press inside the court. The scribes request to see the judge was denied by the police.
Meanwhile, the district judge has informed the Kerala High Court Registrar that he had not asked police to ban the media and only ordered to strengthen security inside the court as Maoist leader Roopesh was supposed to be brought there for trial.
The latest incident is just one among a series of attacks and violence against media in Kerala recently.
Severely condemning the police action, journalists have taken out a silent protest march in Thiruvananthapuram.
Earlier this month, a section of lawyers of the Kerala High Court had beat up reporters within the court's premises questioning the wide coverage given to a case where a government pleader is accused of molesting a woman on a public street.
The violence soon spread to the state capital and further attack on media took place persons at Vanchiyoor district court.