'Political terror' unleashed to silence media in Kerala: KUWJ

Kozhikode, Aug 23 (UNI) Expressing strong resentment over growing attacks on newspersons, the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) today said, ''political terror'' was being unleashed to silence the media in the state.

Addressing mediapersons, who went on a fast in protest against the attacks on scribes in various parts of the state recently, KUWJ general secretary N Padmanabhan said despite claim that media was exempted from hartal/strikes, they were 'brutalised' while on duty by elements in almost all politic outfits.

''They do not want to be exposed of their deeds'' prompting them to resort to attacks on mediapersons, he said and underlined the need for garnering public opinion against such incidents.

Such brutal incidents were taking place almost every day in different parts of the state, but many of them were unreported, he alleged.

Earlier, inaugurating the stir, KUWJ President P P Saseendran said instead of protecting the scribes, who did not belong or biased towards any particular party or organisations, they were being haunted by these elements to carry on their nefarious intentions.

Former Kerala Minister and Indiavision chairman M K Muneer, Mathrubhumi periodicals Editor K K Sreedharan Nair, Assistant Editor N P Rajedran, Malayala Manoraman Resident Editor K Aboobacker, Assistant Editor P Damodaran, Kesari Editor R Sanjayan, Thejas Executive Editor N K Chekooty and KUWJ Vice President C Abdul Rehman, were among those who spoke.

UNI PCH ROY BDP ND1820