Don't politicise attack on journalists: Bengal CM

A day after journalists protested against "police barbarism" on their fraternity members during a political event here, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said a section of the media should not politicise the matter.

"I will not answer the question," Banerjee said when asked if action will be taken against police officers who beat up journalists covering the 'March to Nabanna' (state Secretariat), organised by 11 Left-aligned peasant organisations on Monday.

Referring to a Bengali daily, a visibly annoyed Trinamool Congress supremo said here: "First ask your people (journalists) to behave properly. Tell them not to do politics."

While police claimed only three media persons were injured, journalists present at the Monday event put the figure at over 20. Some journalists were taken to hospital after the incident.

A large number of city journalists and electronic media camerapersons on Tuesday participated in a silent protest march from Rabindrasadan in south Kolkata to the city police headquarters Lalbazar in central part of the metropolis.

They also submitted a memorandum to Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi to seek his intervention in stopping such assaults.

--IANS

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