Eleven arrested for assault on journalists

OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CPM leaders Surjya Kanta Mishra and Biman Bose meet Astik Chattopadhyay in hospital on Saturday Calcutta, June 8: Police have arrested 11 Trinamul workers, including two brothers of a party leader believed to be behind yesterday's attack on three photojournalists in Barrackpore. The arrests came hours after chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced that she had given instructions to take action and that "no recommendations, no appeals will be entertained". Around 50 people, some carrying Trinamul flags, had attacked Astik Chattopadhyay of ABP Ananda, Barun Sengupta of 24 Ghanta and Tona Singha Roy of Kolkata TV with iron rods, bamboo poles and bricks. The three had gone to Barrackpore to cover a murder, allegedly a fallout of Trinamul infighting. Kailash and Dilip Yadav, brothers of Shibu Yadav, the Trinamul leader accused by the photojournalists of masterminding the attack, were arrested from the family's ancestral home in Barrackpore's Naya Bustee late last night. Shibu, whose name features in the FIR relating to the arson attack on the house of local Trinamul leader Rabin Bhattacharya after the murder of Jitu Tanti, is absconding. The nine others arrested were picked up from Santi Bazar and Sadar Bazar. "We are looking for the others who were involved in the assault on the photojournalists," said Sanjay Singh, commissioner, Barrackpore police commissionerate. The police today slapped a host of charges, including attempt to murder and wrongful confinement, on the arrested persons. They were remanded in 14 days' police custody this afternoon. Police sources claimed the 11 persons had said during interrogation that they were Trinamul workers. "Some of them said they owed allegiance to Shibu," a source said. Astik and Barun, who suffered multiple injuries, were still in trauma and severe pain, doctors at Ruby General Hospital off EM Bypass said today. "They have swellings in several parts of their bodies. These are injuries caused by blunt weapons. Both of them are still in pain and are hardly able to move," said hospital CEO S.B. Purkayastha. Astik, who had a deep cut on his right temple, has been given four stitches, doctors at Ruby said. "He also has swellings and bruises all over his body, especially in the back and the waist," Purkayastha said. Barun had injuries in the back of his neck, right wrist, right shoulder, left arm, right and left knee joints and right little finger. The two underwent CT scan of the spine and brain. No fractures or internal injuries were found, the doctors said.