Veerendra Kumar condemns police 'high-handedness'

Janata Dal (United) state chief and MP M P Veerendra Kumar today condemned the police action against media personnel, saying such instances had not occurred even during Emergency.
"The action by the police preventing media personnel from discharging their duty cannot be acceptedin a democracy. Such instances have never occurred even during the Emergency," Kumar, who is also Managing Director of 'Mathrubhumi', said in a statement.
He said continued attacks against press is a challenge to democracy.
"If protests are not raised over such high-handedness of a Sub Inspector taking matters into his own hands, then the very crux of democracy will be ruined," he said.

"Media personnel went to the court only to perform their duty, not to save anybody. The public have the right to know what is happening in the courts," he added.
Three media personnel covering a case at the district court were prevented by police earlier in the day, who said they had acted on the instructions of the district magistrate.

However, the magistrate informed the Kerala High Court Registrar that he had not given any such instructions.
The media personnel were taken to the police station in a police jeep and kept there for some time.
Later they allowed to leave following protests by other media persons.