Media threatened outside BSE

Agitated investors and brokers yesterday resorted to slogan shouting outside the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) following an unprecedented free fall in the capital markets over fears that the next government could effect sweeping policy changes.

Journalists, both of the print and electronic media were threatened outside the BSE by about 200 people and asked to remove their vans and equipment.

The agitators who raised slogans against the Left parties for making statements which had sent the capital markets in a tailspin were angry with the media "for presenting a wrong picture during elections and the exit polls".

They claimed that distorted media reports had led to panic on the bourses.

The agitators threatened to damage the outdoor broadcast vans if they were not moved away. As the situation grew tense, most of the OB vans were driven out of the BSE building.

A posse of police, which rushed to the spot, brought the situation under control.

Investors were also angry with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), which, they said, was not doing what was required to correct the situation. "Has it (Sebi) stopped functioning," some of them asked in exasperation.

Dilip Mehta, an investor, said, "I have never seen such a bloodbath in my 24 years of trading."