Patna, Sep 18 (IANS) Twelve employees of a shopping complex here have been arrested for attacking journalists, police said Tuesday.
The incident occurred when media persons rushed to the Vishal Mega Mart after receiving news that a fire had broken out there. Several journalists, including an ETV reporter, Aaj Tak cameraman and a local reporter of a Hindi daily, were injured in the attack.
The scribes alleged that the manager of the mart prevented them from entering the complex and ordered his employees to drive them out. They said the employees, armed with hockey sticks and canes, assaulted them.
An ETV reporter, Neel Kamal, was caught and thrashed mercilessly.
After a hue and cry by opposition leaders and media persons, 12 employees of the shopping complex were arrested Monday evening.
Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Shakeel Ahmad Khan said the attack on journalists in the heart of Patna has exposed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s claim of good governance.