Media persons locked up over court reporting

Kozhikode: The police locked up Bureau Chief of Asianet television channel Binnu Raj and two of its employees in the Kozhikode Police Station on Saturday, leading to widespread protests by media.

The incident happened as a sequel to happening at the district court premises in the morning when the police detained reporters who had come to the court to report proceedings. The police took them to the station along with the outside broadcasting van of Asianet.

Though the police later apologised and let off the media persons, the Asianet team that returned to the Station later to take away the van was detained by the police. The police action was led by sub-inspector P. M. Vimod who had been kept off duty following the incidents in the morning.

The Sub inspector allegedly manhandled the Asianet team and abused them. The team included driver Prakash and technician Arun. As information about the incident spread, media persons rushed to the police station and staged a protest demonstration there.

Though the police said that they had acted on the directions of the District Judge, this has been denied by the court. There was only a directive to improve security.

Meanwhile the Calicut Bar Association has passed a resolution supporting the police action. It was the media that caused the trouble at the court premises.

Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan said that the government viewed the incident at Kozhikode seriously. The Director General of Police had been asked to submit a report by evening. The police should not create any hindrance to the movement of the media unless there is a ban order.