Journalists

Kolkata

West Bengal

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on 31 May regarding the brutal assault on journalists by the Kolkata Police while they were covering a political demonstration on May 22, 2017.

On May 22, 2017, the All India Kisan Sabha – the farmers’ wing of Communist Party of India (Marxist) – and farmers’ wings of other Left parties had organised a protest rally and march to the state government Secretariat (Nabanna) against the anti-farmer policies of the state government. Journalists from media houses were covering the political rally. At about 1.45 PM, the Kolkata Police suddenly started a lathi-charge on the protesters and also on the journalists present. More than 50 journalists were severely injured and were hospitalised.  It is alleged that policemen also tried to misbehave with women journalists and manhandled them.

On May 23, 2017, journalists organised a rally from Rabindra Sadan to Lalbazar Police Headquarters to protest against the brutal assault by Kolkata Police.

Two camerapersons of NDTV news channel, Mr. Nirmal Sarkar and Mr. Shankar Ghosh Dastidar, who were on the spot, were severely caned by the police. Mr. Sarkar's hand got a cut and part of his camera was damaged. Mr. Sukanta Mukherjee, a reporter from the ETV news channel, was assaulted. Mr. Himadri Roy, another cameraman, was also caned by the police and his camera was damaged. Mr. Tanmoy Bhaduri a freelance photographer, was attacked by the police. Mr. Mrityunjoy Biswas, a cameraman with Rajasthan Patrika, suffered cuts in the forehead. Ms. Indranil Bhaduri, a photojournalist of R-Plus news channel, was beaten up by at least four policemen while filming the police versus protesters’ clash. Mr. Gopal Banik, a reporter with Onkar TV and Ms. Sharmin Begum sustained injuries.