YouTubers, Kannada TV news channel reporter attacked in Dharmasthala

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Tension prevailed in Dharmasthala on Wednesday after three YouTubers were allegedly attacked by a group of persons at Pangala in the temple town. Police used lathis to disperse the group.

Sources said the YouTubers were attacked while interviewing Big Boss fame Rajat who had returned after meeting the family members of a woman who was allegedly raped and murdered near Dharmasthala in 2013.

The YouTubers, Ajay Anchan, Abhishek and Vijay, were questioned by a group over their reports on the SIT investigation. There was heated exchange of words between the YouTubers and the group and the group reportedly prevented the YouTubers from recording it and attacked them. Their two vehicles and cameras were reportedly also damaged in the incident.

A few minutes after the alleged attack in Dharmasthala, Harish, a reporter with Asianet Suvarna news, was also allegedly attacked by a group at a private hospital in Ujire, near Dharmasthala. Sources said the television reporter was attacked when he was coming out of the hospital after speaking with the three YouTubers admitted for treatment.

Meanwhile, a large number of people staged protest in front of Dharmasthala police station in the evening stating that the YouTubers were “damaging the reputation of the temple town” by airing “baseless reports” on the ongoing investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the alleged burials in Dharmasthala village.

K. Arun, Superintendent of Police, Dakshina Kannada, quoting doctors, said in a statement that there was no grievous injury to any one admitted to the hospital.

He said FIRs were being registered in Dharmasthala police station on the complaint of assault on YouTubers and damage to their vehicles “by members in support of Dharmasthala” and for assaulting Suvarna News reporter “by members in support of YouTubers”.

He said another FIR was being registered for unlawful assembly in Pangala and in front of Dharmasthala police station and in front of the private hospital at Ujire. “Appropriate legal action will be taken and further cases will be booked after verification of videos,” Dr. Arun said

Meanwhile, Amit Singh, Inspector General of Police (Western Range) rushed to Dharmasthala late in the evening.

The Communist Party of India (Marxists) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) condemned the attacks on the media. K. Prakash, secretary, CPI (M), Karnataka, urged police to arrest the attackers and those who instigated the attacks.

Condemning the attacks, Digital Media for Democracy, Bengaluru in a statement said, “We hope the State government will stand by the democratic right of media organisations and journalists, particularly digital media who have been in forefront in exposing the alleged crimes around Dharmasthala.”