Attack on Mathrubhumi office disgrace to Kerala: Chandy

Terming the attack on the office of Malayalam daily 'Mathrubhumi' at Kottakal as a "disgrace" to the state, senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy today asked the LDF government to take immediate steps to book all culprits.
"The attack is a disgrace to the state. The government should also expose any forces behind the attack that took place on May 31," Chandy said.
This type of violence against media house and journalists cannot be approved under any circumstances, he added.
Eight persons were arrested in connection with the attack on Mathrubhumi newspaper's Kottakkal unit by a group of people protesting a road accident. The staff present in the office were injured and furniture damaged.

Meanwhile, Malappuram District Congress President E Kuhammed Kunji wanted Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to intervene in the matter and take all accused into custody.
He said it was very cruel to attack the office of a media house and threaten journalists, including women, who reported a strike that happened on a public road.

The government has failed to arrest all the persons responsible for the incident, he alleged.
Congress leader and MLA V Muraleedharan described it as an "infringement" on the freedom of press.
CPI Malappuram District Committee said it would submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister seeking steps to arrest all the persons responsible for the attack.

The Committee said a probe should be held on a "scientific" basis to book all the culprits.