Mirror Now Journo Attacked in Chennai, Suffers Serious Injuries

Despite no provocation from Pramod and clear indications that he was a journalist who doing his job, he was attacked

Mirror Now’s Chennai’s correspondent Pramod Madhav was attacked while on duty on Monday, 3 December, and suffered serious injuries.

The journalist was attacked in a tea shop near Raj Bhavan, governor’s residence in Chennai when he was out to cover a protest organised by MDMK leader Vaiko.

The fellow witness journalist claim that the accused was a DMK worker, however, DMK has denied any links to the incident.

“We appeal to the police to take stern appropriate action against Suresh Babu. We request all media to research before posting news that the man was a DMK aide.’

RS Bharathi, DMK organizing secretary

Vaiko had organised a protest demanding the release of the seven convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

Following a commotion at a tea shop nearby, Pramod and fellow journalist went to check where the Mirror Now correspondent started filming the incident on his mobile phone.

Despite no provocation by Pramod, the man who was engaged in a verbal fight in the shop, started attacking him by punching his face and pushing him to the ground. The attack was stopped by fellow journalists who came to Pramod’s aide.

The accused has been identified as Suresh Babu and was arrested by the police after the incident.

#DMK this is not done. In fact all TN political parties, it's time you hold the reins of your party workers tight and not let journalists get hurt. @madhavpramod1 and others are here to do their job. https://t.co/1bXZ0Hf6RV

— Smitha T K (@smitha_tk) December 3, 2018

Journo @madhavpramod1 attacked by #DMK party person. Reality of press freedom in Tamilnadu.

Enough is enough. Time to stop hate against press peoples. 😡😡😡 pic.twitter.com/7flfEZ5VYI

— niranjan kumar (@niranjan2428) December 3, 2018

Tamil Nadu’s Deputy Chief Minister O Pannerselvam condemned the incident and said that he will always stand by the media.

Upset to hear that the @MirrorNow journalist @madhavpramod1 was attacked. Journalists work day and night to report truthful events to the people.I strongly condemn this attack on journalists. I would like to state that we will always stand by the fourth pillar of democracy-media. https://t.co/C40GkK1aQ2

— Smitha T K (@smitha_tk) December 3, 2018

Pramod suffered injuries to his face, teeth, eye and also has a fracture on his nose.

Meanwhile, DMK President MK Stalin said that it was a plot against his party.

“An outsider entered the crowd and created a ruckus. This was a plot against DMK. I have heard that the man (who assaulted) has been arrested. I would like to clarify that no FIR has been filed against any party men.”

MK Stalin, DMK President

According to a report by The News Minute, the journalist is currently being treated in the Royapettah Government Hospital in Chennai.

(With inputs from The News Minute)