Malayalam dailys office attacked

The Palakkad district office of Mangalam,a Malayalam daily,was attacked late on Friday night...

The Palakkad district office of Mangalam,a Malayalam daily,was attacked late on Friday night,hours after a reporter of the daily reportedly got a threatening call from a CPIM leader.

The provocation,according to the newspaper,was a question that reporter Sanoop put to politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan during a press meet on Thursday. The reporter asked Vijayan if the party would look into the corruption charges against the partys district leadership. Instead of answering him,Vijayan,flanked by party district secretary P Unni,allegedly asked the reporter for the name of his newspaper.

According to Sanoop,Unni called him on Friday night and asked him to reveal the source of the report on corruption. When I refused to divulge the source,Unni got angry. He asked me which hand I use to write. When I said right hand,Unni said he would chop off my hand. Then he hung up, said Sanoop.

Around 10 pm on Friday,two men went to Palakkads Mangalam Towers,where the bureau is based,and asked for Sanoop. They left when they were told Sanoop wasnt in office. About two hours later,a group of 20 to 30 men stormed the building.

The newspaper office shut its doors but the attackers destroyed a signboard and ransacked Mangalam groups scanning and diagnostic centre next to the newspaper office. They also assaulted a guard and smashed an ambulance,before fleeing the scene.

When contacted,Unni admitted that he had called the reporter but claimed he hadnt threatened him.

Shaju Philip

Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More