Scribes demands arrest of CRPF men for assualting colleagues

Jalandhar, Jul 27 (UNI) Members of the Punjab Press Club today gave 48-hour ultimatum to the government for arresting CRPF personnels involved in attack on journalists here.

More than 10 journalists from electronic and print media were attacked with lathis by a group of CRPF personnels at Football Chowk here last night when they went to the cover their misdeeds. The men in uniform under the influence of alcohol were demanding free booze from the contractor of the nearby liquor shop.

The CRPF personnels during the assault, gouged out an eye of a civilian, identified as Jagmohan, thinking him to a journalist.

Even Punjab Police officers, including SP Surender Kumar Kalia and DSP Mukhvinder Singh, who reached the spot, remained mute spectators to the onslaught.

Late in the night, police registered a case under section 307 of the IPC against 13 CRPF personnels.

Punjab Press Club president R N Singh, after a meeting with the members, demanded immidiate arrest the CRPF personnels, free treatment for Jagmohan in a better hospital, immidiate suspension of SP Kalia and compensation for broken cameras.

''If government fails to respond to our demands then we will intensify our agitation,'' said Mr Singh.

UNI