Journalists attacked by advocates outside Kerala HC

A group of advocates today allegedly attacked media persons outside the Kerala High Court complex here, leaving two persons injured.
The lawyers allegedly hurled abuses and threatened that they would not allow the reporters to cover the court proceedings. A section of them even locked down the media room in the court complex.
Two camerapersons of television news channels have been injured in the attack, local media reported.
The injured have been admitted to the Ernakulam government hospital, police said.
Ernakulam unit of Kerala Union of Working Journalists alleged that the advocates resorted to violent protest against the media as they were provoked by its coverage of an alleged attempt by a government pleader to molest a woman here last week.

Journalists under the banner of KUWJ staged a protest at a city corner demanding action against the lawyers who targeted media.

Visuals aired by various TV channels showed media persons being chased and kicked by advocates even as police tried to rescue them.
The lawyers were seen preventing camerapersons from taking visuals of the violence.
Media persons have complained to the High Court registrar about the incident, which occurred a day after some advocates allegedly used abusive words against legal reporters at the court's media room here.
Yesterday, a legal reporter, who was allegedly manhandled by a section of unruly lawyers, had complained to the acting Chief Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan about the incident in the media room.

The government pleader, who is currently out on bail, was arrested last week on the charge of allegedly attempting to molest the woman on a city lane.