A least four journalists were injured and several vehicles, computers and other properties were damaged when Tripura BJP workers allegedly attacked the office of a leading newspaper in Agartala on Wednesday.
The BJP members allegedly vandalized the office of the local daily “Pratibadi Kalam” and set ablaze several vehicles, parked in front of the office.
Anal Roy Chowdhury, the editor of the newspaper, alleged after a BJP rally, workers of the ruling party attacked and ransacked his office, and burnt the cars and two-wheelers parked in front of it.
“At least four journalists were injured in the attack. All papers and documents, computers, and CCTV cameras were destroyed while a huge contingent of police remained silent spectators and did nothing,” Chowdhury alleged.
He said that ‘goons’ were armed with lathis and sharp-edged deadly weapons.
“One of our journalists, namely Prasenjit Saha, was hit on the back of his head by a sharp-edged weapon and injured seriously,” he said.
Chowdhury told reporters that such a dangerous violent attack on a media office never happened in Tripura in the past.
Many media organisations and senior journalists, including Agartala Press Club Secretary Pranab Sarkar, visited the newspaper office and vehemently condemned the attack and demanded immediate arrest of the attackers.
“If the police did not arrest the attackers within 12 hours, we would launch massive agitations to get justice. Government must compensate for the damages done by the attackers,” Sarkar said.