The Coimbatore Press Club has urged the City Police Commissioner to take immediate action against Arafat Ali, a cop in Coimbatore for assaulting Lakshmanan, a senior video journalist who was on duty near Echanari here, on Monday.
Coimbatore: SimpliCity strongly condemns the brutality meted out to Lakshmanan, our Senior Video Journalist by a Cop near Echanari here, on Monday. We sincerely beleive our City Police Commissioner K. Balakrishnan who always stresses on a strong public - police bonding will look into this matter on utmost priority and do the needful.
In another brazen misuse of power against journalists by Police, a journalist named Lakshmanan working as a senior video journo at SimpliCity Coimbatore, digital media platform was brutally assaulted by a cop on security duty during TN Governor's visit to Coimbatore on January 30.
Reacting to the issue, the Coimbatore Press Club has also strongly urged the police department to take appropriate action against constable Arafat Ali of Kuniyamuthur Police station for misbehaving in public with a journalist who was returning after covering the press conference attended by BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan's inauguration of 'Padayatra' pilgrimage from Coimbatore to Palani near Echanari here.
Lakshmanan has been working in the field of journalism in Coimbatore for over 10 years. While, he initially worked as a video journo for Sun TV, he is presently working with SimpliCity in Coimbatore, the largest digital platform for Coimbatore news, as senior video journalist.
On the day of the incident, Lakshmanan was returning to office after attending a press conference by BJP National Women's Wing Chief Vanathi Srinivasan MLA and BJP State President Annamalai. While Lakshmanan was travelling on a two-wheeler from Echanari he was stopped by a traffic cop who was on security duty for Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi's arrival to Coimbatore for the Padayatra event.
Citing passing of Governor's convoy, the cop had instructed Lakshmanan to stop his vehicle. Lakshmanan who immediately parked his vehicle on the side of the road was about to leave, right after the Governor's convoy passed by.
Meanwhile, a traffic policeman, who was on duty at that time, took away the keys of Lakshmanan's two-wheeler and got into an argument stating that vehicle engines had to be stopped and that Lakshmanan failed to do so.
Shocked by the behaviour of the cop, Lakshmanan along with another senior journo who was present at the scene confronted the cop seeking explanation on what grounds he had taken the vehicle keys. Not only did the policeman denied to give an appropriate answer but inturn used strong language against the journos and replied that he had orders from higher rank officials to do so.
Meanwhile, out of the blue another policemen attached with Kuniyamuthur Police Station named Arafat Ali, who was also on security duty, barged into the scene and thrashed Lakshmanan in public and dragged him to the road.
Clueless and irked by the audacious behaviour by the cop, Lakshmanan defended himself and questioned the cop's brutality strongly. However, the cop who lost his cool continued to misbehave and abuse him with harsh words.
Later, when fellow journalists from various media joined the confrontation, Lakshmanan is seen asking the erring cop that if he would thrash anyone just because he is a cop.
For which Arafat Ali replies that "Yes, I would. Do whatever you can."
Later the two-wheeler driven by journalist Lakshmanan was later taken away by the police.
Journalist Lakshmanan has lodged a formal complaint with the City Police Commissioner, K. Balakrishnan about the atrocities meted out to him while on duty. He has demanded that appropriate action be taken against the cop.
Lakshmanan who reportedly sustained swelling around his neck and ear was then taken to Coimbatore Government hospital for treatment.
Nail marks on the cop was also seen on his chest.
Meanwhile, responding swiftly upon the issue, the Coimbatore Press Club has also strongly condemned the act of intimidation by the police against a journo.
"The police department should take appropriate action against the cop, Arafat Ali, who assaulted journalist Lakshmanan with harsh words and behaved inappropriately in public They should also establish the promise they have given that the 'Police Department is your friend' by action and Journalist Lakshmanan should get justice."
The Coimbatore Journalists' association also demanded the erring cop Arafat Ali to express regret for his act and tender an apology.
"The Coimbatore Press Club will accompany Lakshmanan in this journey towards justice and condemns the high handed attitude of the cop. If required, all Coimbatore journalists will unite together and protest to seek justice", noted a press release from the club.