V M Sudheeran seeks withdrawal of case against journos

Kozhikode: Kerala unit president of Congress V M Sudheeran Saturday demanded withdrawal of "fake" cases registered against journalists, especially women, in connection with alleged manhandling by advocates at a Vigilance court in Thiruvananthapuram on October 14.

The police action of filing a case against journalists cannot be justified at all, he said.

"They did not take an impartial stance and their move challenges the entire legal system. The authorities should withdraw the case immediately," he told reporters here.

The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief said he was not against the entire lawyer fraternity but only against those defaming the profession by their action.

"I am not blaming the lawyers as a whole but a section of them committed mistakes by their act of attack on journalists which will defame the entire community," he said.

Sudheeran said putting up "abusive" posters against women journalists was objectionable and unprecedented in the history of the state which should be nipped in the bud.

"The public which favours an independent press will never support such actions," he added.

On October 14, a section lawyers had allegedly dragged four mediapersons out of the court room where they had assembled to cover proceedings with regard to a petition against then Kerala Industries Minister E P Jayarajan on the appointment row. The lawyers also threatened them.

While five lawyers were arrested on a complaint from two women journalists, an FIR has been registered against four mediapersons on a counter-complaint by an advocate.