22 cases of assault on scribes in MP during BJP rule

Bhopal, Nov 26 (UNI) Twenty-two cases of assaults on journalists were registered with police during the present Bharatiya Janata Party rule in Madhya Pradesh, the state government told the Assembly today.

Journalist Pawan Jain was gunned down in the state capital on July 3 this year and a chargesheet against seven people had been presented in court, state Home Minister Himmat Kothari told Ms Saroj Bachchan Nayak (Samajwadi Party) in a written reply.

Of the 22 cases registered between December 2003 and November 15, 2007, Mr Kothari said, the accused were unidentified in four cases and absconding in two, while arrests were made in 15 cases. In one case, mutual compromise was reached between rival parties and no arrest executed.

UNI