Cops suspended for ‘assaulting’ journalist

The case has been registered under sections 323 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt),342 (wrongful confinement),504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace)and 506 (criminal intimidation) under IPC.

Tripathi alleged in his FIR that he was standing close to his office along with other colleagues last night when Ashok and Kumar arrived there. The officers started hurling expletives at him and also assaulted him,without any provocation. They also manhandled his colleague Manoj Rajan Tripathi,who tried to rescue him. Tripathi said the two officers then forced him into a police gypsy and took him to the Hazratganj police station. The cops kept hurling abuses at him and issued life threats while on way to the police station.

The journalist also said that the officers asked the constables present at the police station to beat him up,but the policemen refused to comply. Later,Ashok allegedly ordered some officers to dump Tripathi in the lock-up and book him in a case of molestation.

However,Ashok and Anoop left the police station soon after some top officers called them,ordering them to release Tripathi immediately.

A group of journalists later marched towards Chief Minister Mayawati’s residence at 1 am,demanding action against the erring officers. Secretary to CM Navneet Sehgal met the mediapersons at 1.30 am and assured them of getting a case registered against the erring cops and initiating action against them.

Tripathi said that the attack by the police officers was an attempt to threaten him not to raise issues against the government and the state police.

The police,meanwhile,claimed that a man had complained that his wife was being harassed by the driver of the vehicle attached with the channel. While the police reached the spot,the SP (East) and the CO who were patrolling the area also arrived there. A heated argument occurred between the officers and Tripathi,which turned serious later.

The DIG said that investigation is on to find out the reason behind the incident.