Guj govt orders inquiry into police lathicharge on journalists

The Gujarat government Monday ordered an inquiry into the lathicharge by police on reporters covering elections of a temple trust in Junagadh town, around 320 kms from here.

The incident took place on Sunday outside Swaminarayan Temple in Junagadh when the election of the temple trust was underway, and was captured on camera.

In one of the videos of the incident aired by news channels, policemen, including some in civil uniform, can be seen pushing away a cameramen and then hitting media crew with batons. A policeman can also be seen slapping a TV channel cameraman.

Demanding immediate suspension of three policemen involved in thrashing cameramen and reporters of television news channels, several mediapersons of Saurashtra region staged protests at the office of Junagadh Superintendent of Police Saurabh Singh.

Gujarat Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja said he had ordered an inquiry.

"I have learned that police hit mediapersons during the election of temple ..