Attack on journalist: three policemen transferred

Three police personnel who had allegedly beaten up a journalist from a Malayalam daily were today transferred as part of departmental disciplinary action.
Official sources said Sub-Inspector K R Biju and civil police officers Bijoy and Praveen, attached to the Varkala police station, were the cops who were transferred.
Local correspondent of the 'Kerala Kaumudi' daily, Sajeev Gopalan (49) was allegedly beaten up by them at his house on the night of September 24 and was admitted to a private hospital here with serious injuries.
A senior police officer said further action against the three would be taken after getting the report of the ongoing departmental inquiry on the incident and allegations against them.

Members of Gopalan's family alleged that the journalist had recently published a news item on the abduction of a girl and the alleged involvement of some police officials in protecting the accused. This must be the reason for the attack against the journalist, they claimed.
The incident took place when Gopalan was standing in front of his house to see off his two friends who had come for dinner.
Three journalists were killed in different parts of the country this month.