FIR filed over attack on journalists: Delhi Police chief

A First Information Report (FIR) was registered on Tuesday over some lawyers thrashing journalists at a city court here on Monday, Delhi Police said.

"We have registered an FIR in connection with the incident that occurred in the court yesterday (Monday). We are looking into the matter," Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi said here at a function of 69th Raising Day of Delhi Police.

"We are taking all steps to identify the people and action will be taken as per the course of law," he added.

When questioned about alleged police inaction during the thrashing, Bassi said: "If it is proved that police did not perform its duty or showed laxity, appropriate action would be taken against those as well."

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who also attended the event, said: "An inquiry is going on over the incident."

However, Rajnath Singh, who had earlier claimed a link between terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba and the protests at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, refused to disclose any details.

Four journalists, including one from IANS, and some JNU students were assaulted at the Patiala House courts by a section of lawyers.

IANS reporter Amiya Kumar Kushwaha was slapped inside a courtroom while some other journalists were attacked within the court premises by lawyers who were raising "Bharat Mata ki Jai" slogans.

The incident took place just before the president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU), Kanhaiya Kumar, who has been arrested on charges of sedition, was to be presented before a court.