Kolkata Police provide jackets to journalists for covering political rallies safely

Before they started covering BJP's rally to KP headquarter at Lalbazar on Thursday afternoon, city-based scribes, lens men and videographers were given those jackets.

Police  wrote 'PRESS' on the jackets of eye-catchy colours in bold letters.

On Monday, policemen, led by two IPS officials, Aparajita Rai and Murali Dhar Sharma, lathicharged media persons twice without any reason, while reporters were covering the Left's protest march to state secretariat Nabanna at Mayo Road and Dufferin Road in near Esplanade.

At least 12 senior and junior journalists, photojournalists and videographers, including a correspondent from IBNS, were injured in the sudden strike and four of them were admitted to hospital as their injuries were serious.

Calling the incident unfortunate and undesired, senior officials of city police have said they will look into the matter and take action against the accused cops.

Journalists of the city took out two protest  rallies on Tuesday and Wednesday and demanded punishment of the erring policemen.

Before the BJP's law violation programme on Thursday, a senior police officer suggested that journalists covering the event wear yellow jackets to be provided by the police so that they can be distinguished and spared from any action against law violators.

No reaction to the assault of journalists has been received from state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee so far.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha, Image by Subhodeep Sardar/IBNS)