13 April 2018: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) strongly condemned the attack on two journalists-one photojournalist working with Times of India and a TV reporter of  ETV Bharat-by the ruling Trinamool Congress workers on 9 April at Alipore in 24 Paraganas District in West Bengal.

In a statement issued here on Friday, the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) President S N Sinha and Secretary-General Amar Devulapalli said Biplab Mondal of Times of India was attacked when he took the pictures of the Trinamool Congress workers beating up of opposition candidates filing their nominations for panchayat elections at Alipore District Administrative Building. They said the photo journalist was stripped and beaten up before he was let off on a nod from a local ruling party leader. Manas Chattopadhyay of ETV Bharat was also attacked when he was covering the forceful prevention of opposition candidates filing nominations for local body elections at Alipore on the same day. They were attacked even after they identified themselves as journalists. 

“We are concerned over increasing attacks on journalists in West Bengal by the ruling party workers. It is unfortunate that the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been taking no action against the culprits inspite several complaints from the journalists unions. We urge upon her to immediately restrain her cadre from attacking the journalists doing their duty and take stringent action against those who attacked two journalists at Alipore,” the IJU said.

The IJU requested the Press Council of India (PCI) to take suo motu cognizance of the attack on two journalists in West Bengal and take suitable steps to protect the journalists from attacks.