Thiruvananthapuram: A police officer here on Sunday allegedly assaulted and took into custody the photographer of a leading media outlet following an argument over the parking of a two-wheeler.
The Station House Officer (SHO) of Vanchiyoor police station allegedly abused Malayala Manorama’s senior photographer Benny Paulose, and also yelled at him for no reason, when he had questioned the policeman over the parking of his two-wheeler.
The press photographer said that he was “forcibly taken by SHO Dinal along with two policemen and was dumped into the backside of the police jeep, and taken to Vanchiyoor police station”.
The camera of the photographer was also seized by the police personnel and thrown into the police vehicle.
When Trivandrum press club president Radhakrishnan and other office bearers of the club went to enquire about the incident, the SHO “shouted and sounded arrogant”.
“The SHO told me ‘I will do anything and everything. Who is there to question?” Radhakrishnan told IANS.
The Trivandrum Press Club president also said that he was forcibly pushed aside and, the SHO, who tried to assault him, also behaved in an arrogant manner towards the press club office bearers.
Benny Paulose also complained of having pain in his hand and shoulder.
Later, when the media personnel sat on a ‘dharna’ in front of Vanchiyoor police station, senior police officers reached the spot and released the photographer.
Trivandrum Press Club president, M. Radhakrishnan, and Secretary H. Honey called upon the government to take legal action against the SHO.
(IANS)
