Journalists in Bangalore demand CBI probe over scuffle with lawyers

Bangalore, Mar 5 (ANI): In the wake of recent violent clashes between lawyers and journalists in Bangalore, the mediapersons staged a protest here on Monday and urged the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to launch an investigation into the matter.

"We always knew that we were not safe in court, every time we reported important, high profile cases in court, we had to call up the Law Minister, we had to call up the Commissioner and we had to tell them, 'Sir, we are in the court and we are getting threats from the lawyers there.' The lawyers used to spot us, they used to tell us 'Oh, this person is a reporter, that person is a reporter.' So, we had always taken protection from the government and the police as well," said Ayesha Khanum, a journalist.

"Despite knowing this fact, they couldn't prevent it that day, so I think the government has failed in some way and I think the government let it go loose because the government was already upset with the media because the media has exposed three ministers in the legislative assembly. So, I feel the government took this opportunity and let these lawyers loose on us and they thought 'Let them get beaten up," she added.

Khanum further said a judicial enquiry ordered by the government would not yield the desired result and the CBI should handle the matter.

"So, we are demanding let this go to a CBI enquiry, let's see who has instigated this violence. The lawyers are saying the media did it, the media is saying lawyers did it; so let it go to the CBI, what is the harm?" Khanum asked.

"So, we want a CBI enquiry and we want the membership of these rowdy lawyers who attacked the media, the bar council should bar them, they should take their black coats away from them, they are no longer fit to be lawyers, they cannot protect anyone," she added.

Meanwhile, another journalist, Bansi, echoing similar sentiments said the state government needed to take stringent action against the lawyers involved in the incident.

"The journalists are feeling let down that the real perpetrators of violence against the individual journalists have not been booked as yet, it's more than 48 hours and the police has really, in one way, gone back on their words. So, the feeling amongst the journalists' fraternity is they are feeling let down," said Bansi.

"This is not against the advocates as a whole, this is only against those elements among the advocates who caused so much of hurt and caused so much of damage and violence on that particular day," added Bansi.

Journalists in Bangalore had staged a sit-in-protest earlier on March 2 after being attacked by lawyers outside a city court, and sought justice from the Karnataka Government on the unfortunate incident.

The clash broke out after lawyers attempted to stop the journalists from entering the court complex on March 2.

The lawyers were reportedly upset with the media after it questioned a road blockade by protesting lawyers in January in Mysore city. (ANI)