INS urges PM to bring Dinakaran attack culprits to book

New Delhi, May 9 (UNI) The Indian Newspaper Society(INS) today lodged its strong protest with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh against the attack on the office and employees of Dinakaran daily published from Tamil Nadu, asking him to bring the culprits to book.

Expressing ''shock and horror'' over the incident, INS President Hormunshi N Cama in letters to the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, the Minister for Information and Broadcasting and the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, urged that the criminals be meted out stringent punishment.

In Madurai, three employees of the vernacular daily were killed allegedly by supporters of DMK chief M Karunanidhi's son M K Azhagiri, protesting the publication of a report based on a survey on the line of succession in the ruling DMK.

Mr Cama said the INS feels that the Government must view these developments with utmost seriousness and take urgents steps to bring the culprits to book.

''A free and pluralistic media led by the Press in India, has been a major force for strengthening the evolution of the democratic polity of the country. If newspapers and other media are unable to publish news and views without fear or favour, the very foundation of the democratic polity will get damaged,'' he said.

UNI