In another case of violence against journalists, Sajeev Gopalan, a senior journalist of a regional Malayalam daily, was allegedly beaten and stripped in front of his family members by the police at Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala on Sunday. The 49-year-old journalist was rushed to a nearby hospital with severe neck injuries.
Gopalan, who works for Kalakaumudi newspaper, claimed that he was attacked because he had recently published a news item on the abduction of a girl and the alleged involvement of some police officials in protecting the accused. The incident happened on Sunday when Gopalan was standing in front of his house to see off his two friends, who had come for dinner.
“Two police officials hit me on my neck, kicked and stripped me. A sub-inspector also joined them in the assault. All this happened at my home in front of my wife and 15-year-old daughter. I heard them mention the story as they beat me. They were like goondas,” Gopalan said, as quoted by NDTV.
However, the police claimed that they took the action because the journalist and four others were consuming alcohol at a public place. “The situation turned violent when the police tried to stop them. Gopalan and one of his friends start abusing them while the rest ran away,” an officer told the news portal.
Talking to PTI, P Asok Kumar, Thiruvananthapuram rural police chief said,”Based on media reports, Attingal ASP has been asked to conduct an inquiry.”
