TV journalist ‘thrashed’ by police, action against 2 cops
NEWDELHI: A television journalist was allegedly thrashed by police for reporting a crime story at the Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital in north Delhi on Friday evening.
Photographs showed injuries to 28-year-old Avdhesh Kumar’s ears and back, that were seemingly inflicted by batons.
Kumar, a reporter with P24 News, alleged he was beaten up at the hospital, dragged several hundred metres before again being thrashed at the Jahangirpuri police station.
Delhi Police’s PRO Madhur Verma, however, in an official statement, suggested that even policemen were assaulted by Kumar. Senior police officer said action will be taken against two sub-inspectors.
“We have sent two sub-inspec- tors to police lines,” said Aslam Khan, deputy commissioner of police (northwest).
Kumar said he was at the hospital to report on a stabbing incident that occurred in the nearby Mahendra Park earlier on Friday. “I was recording the version of the victims when two sub-inspectors and four policemen approached me and asked me to turn off the camera,” said Kumar.
When he said he was a journalist, one of the sub-inspectors allegedly snatched his mobile and threw away his microphone and office identity card. “The policemen used lathis to rain blows on me. They dragged me for 400-500 metres before taking me to Jahangirpuri police station,” alleged Kumar. At the station, three policemen allegedly sat on his neck while others rained blows on him. “The bleeding in both my ears won’t stop. I am unable to hear clearly. I was thrashed for doing my duty. When I threatened to inform senior officers, the policemen said they will not heed to anyone,” he said.
Kumar said the station house officer (SHO) of Jahangirpuri visited him on Saturday and apologised on behalf of his colleagues. “The two parties do not want to pursue legal action against each other,” said the DCP.