CPI(M) goons attack journo & friend at CM's Nava Kerala Sadas

Kochi: An independent journalist and his friend were allegedly attacked and wounded by a mob of Communist Party of India (Marxist) goons in Kerala's Ernakulam. The alleged incident happened in Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's Nava Kerala Sadas at the Marine Drive on Friday, reports The Newsminute.

The attack happened when the police were arresting the duo, journalist Rejaz M Sheeba Sydeek and his friend Haneen from the space where they were protesting against suppression of the press in the state.

The attacked duo were there demanding the withdrawal of the case charged on Rejaz on October 31. Rejaz had published a news story on Maktoob Media regarding the Kalamassery blasts that happened in October. The story had raised allegations of anti-Muslim bias in the state after two Muslim youths were arrested and linked with blasts just because they were previously associated with the banned outfit SIMI. The arrests were made without any leads, TNM reports.

After the police detained them from Marine Drive on Friday, they were taken to a government hospital for a medical check-up, but their wounds were not tended or given any care, Rejaz alleged. They were under detention for several hours and were given no food.

However, the Ernakulam central police station Circle Inspector denied that they were denied medical care or food. He claimed that the duo were distributing pamphlets and raising slogans even after they were advised to move from there. He added that a case has been registered against the duo under the Kerala Police Act.

It was on October 31 that Rejaz was booked by the Vadakara Police, and following that, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) released a statement condemning the case. CPJ demanded authorities to drop all investigations against the journo, TNM reported.