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NEW
DELHI: A group of reporters went into hiding this afternoon
in a bathroom in a school building in Jhansi after Samajwadi
Party workers standing outside threatened to break down the
door.
They assaulted the journalists earlier when a reporter questioned
a candidate from the party about his defeat in the declaration
of results today. When they turned on the reporters, the police
allegedly refused to intervene. The reporters then rushed
into the school which had been converted into a media centre
for today's counting of votes.
The NDTV crew's camera has been smashed. Vinod Gautam, who
reports for NDTV, said, "There are so many of them outside.
We do not know how we will go home." He also said that
the police stationed outside are still refusing to take any
action against the Samajwadi workers.
NDTV's
other reporters in UP contacted senior Samajwadi leaders shortly
before 7 pm, but the journalists remained under threat until
last reports.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Union of Journalists condemned the attack,
saying ‘it is deplorable that despite repeated appeals
to police stationed nearby and higher police officials, no
action has been taken to free the journalists who have virtually
been held captive by anti-social elements for a long time.
The
DUJ called upon the Uttar Pradesh police to immediately intervene
and stop attacks on journalists in the state. It further urged
upon the Press Council of India to initiate a suo moto enquiry
into all such incidents that have been reported on counting
day in various states.
If
immediate steps are not taken, the DUJ has called for a united
front against such murderous attacks.
The
Samajwadi Party is set to form the next government after its
win in the assembly elections.
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