condemn the attack against media persons in kerala, India

COPY TO,
PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA,
INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING MINISTER OF INDIA,
CHIEF MINISTER, KERALA.

FROM,
DEADLINE (THE COLLECTIVE OF MEDIA STUDENTS
AND BUDDING JOURNALISTS , KERALA, INDIA)



MEDIA PERSONS FACING BIG THREAT IN KERALA, THE 100\% LITERATE INDIAN STATE.
PROTEST AGAINST THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION BY SIGNING THIS PETITION.

We, the undersigned are protesting against the repeating brutal attacks against media persons in Kerala . In yet another bid to suppress press freedom , Kerala ministers supporters attacked journalists in Kozhikode, Kerala. About 20 journalists were injured on November 1, 2004. Supporters of Kerala Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty who accused with sexual exploitation, attacked media personnel when covering his arrival from Saudi Arabia.
Mr. PK Kunhalikutty, is now facing a fresh allegation of sexual harassment in connection with the 1996 ice-cream parlour sex scandal. He was last week accused of sexually abusing a 22-year-old woman thrice in 1996 when she was 14. The attacks were in retaliation to media reports on Mr. Kunhalikuttys alleged involvement in the sex racket case.
Today the journalists, including lens men were stoned and beaten by supporters of the minister. Kunhalikuttys supporters are upset at what they perceived as the aggressive stand taken by journalists on the alleged abuse of the woman by the minister.
S. Deepa, a woman reporter with Asianet TV, was physically and verbally attacked by a group of 50 people. Yesterday the supporters of the minister damaged the Cochin and Kozhikode offices of the India Vision, the Malayalam news channel, in an attack. They stoned the offices and ransacked the vehicles of the channel.
The news bureau chief of the New Indian Express daily, mr.M.P Prasanth was manhandled by a group of miscreants. The camera equipment of media persons were also smashed in the tussle. Police only stood aside and watched as people were attacked. We, the undersigned are condemning the attack on media persons and demanded prompt and strict action against the culprits.