INS condemns attack on NDTV office in Ahmedabad

New Delhi, Jan 21 (UNI) The Indian Newspaper Society (INS) today flayed the recent attack on the NDTV Ahmedabad office as an attempt to ''gag the media by using might'' and urged the government to take punitive action against the guilty.

''Day by day such attacks on the media are increasing and those uncomfortable with the exposure of the truth and facts are trying to gag the media by using might and force,'' INS President Bahubali S Shah said in a statement.

He said the incident reflected the growing level of intolerance and the scant regard for the law of the land and the Constitution.

''All those who believe in democratic values should condemn it.'' Mr Shah said the government should clamp down upon the culprits or it would embolden them.

The authorities should take strong action against the guilty to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future, he said.

''This will instill a sense of trust and confidence in democracy.'' On January 19, about 20-25 activists of the the Hindu Samaj Sena ransacked NDTV's office in Ahmedabad for airing an opinion poll on who should receive the Bharat Ratna with painter M F Hussain as one of the contenders.

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