Three CPM men arrested for assault on journalists

The police today arrested three men,who allegedly belong to the local CPM,in connection with the assault on six journalists on Friday at Buripala village in West Midnapore district.

Manoj Verma,Superintendent of Police,West Midnapore,said: “Today we have picked up three villagers who were involved in assaulting the journalists and snatching their mobile phones. The accused – Saktipada Mahato,Ajit mahato and Panchanan Mahato – were later produced before the Midnapore court and remanded to 14 days’ judicial custody.” The police are,however,not disclosing the accused persons’ political connections. Verma said: “The political identity of the accused persons are yet to be ascertained. But we have got evidence that the three of them were present at the spot and involved in the incident.”

Meanwhile,villagers of Buripala alleged that the accused are active workers of the CPM. “All the three are full-time members of the CPM’s Pirakata local committee,” said a local source. The scribes had lodged a complaint following which the trio were detained last night. “However,the prime accused are still on the run. We are investigating into the matter,” said a senior officer.

The journalists had lodged a complaint against Madhusudhan Mahato,secretary of CPM’s Pirakata local committee and Jagannath Mahato,leader of Salboni area and others,said the officer. Six journalists and photo-journalists of two national news channels and one daily newspaper were assaulted near Pirakanta on Friday when they were returning from Trinamool leader Arati Baskey’s house in Choto Kalshibangha.