Mediapersons assaulted during strike in Kolkata

Kolkata, Feb 28: Mediapersons of two electronic media were assaulted in a south Kolkata locality allegedly by the ruling Trinamool Congress supporters who attacked a zonal office of the opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on Tuesday morning as a nationwide strike by left trade unions took hold in the eastern state.

The journalists of TV channels like 24 Ghanta and Star Ananda said police remained a mute spectator as the mediapersons were beaten up and their equipment snatched and damaged.

The incident occurred in Ganguly Bagan area of south Kolkata.

Star Ananda said the injured journalist is Partha Pratim Ghosh.

While the CPI-M said the attack in unprovoked, the Trinamool Congress said they were first hurled abuses.

Some TV footage showed a journalists pushed to the ground on the street and apparently being kicked while some party cadres preventing the media from filming the incident.

CPI-M leader Kanti Ganguly said the attack was unprovoked. "They ransacked the office completely," said Ganguly.

Trinamool Congress leader and urban affairs minister Firhad Hakim said the incident was a conspiracy by the CPI-M.

"The incident is sad. We condemn it," said Congress leader Om Prakash Mishra.

Normal public life was crippled in pockets across India as thousands of Indian workers joined a strike against high inflation and to demand better working conditions and an end to selling off state firms.

Eleven central trade unions including CITU, AITUC, UTUC, AIUTUC, HMS, TUCI and NLO, have called the strike.

According to estimates nearly 8 lakh public sector employees with the exception of those in the Railways are participating in the strike.

In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has instructed her ministers to ensure that no government employees take part in the strike which she says is sponsored by the communists, warning of “consequences” and "penal action" if her orders are violated. (IBNS)