u2018 Why was I beaten up mercilessly?u2019

Continued from page u0010 u000f HOME Minister Anil Deshmukh has taken cognisance of the incident. The Mumbai Bagh protest against the Citizenship ( Amendment) Act ( CAA) and National Register of Citizens ( NRC) at Morland Road completed u009d u00a0 days on Thursday.

u201c I was going back to the protest when, at the barricade marking the entrance, two young male officers demanded my ID card. I was carrying a backpack and a camera lens so it was a little difficult to get the ID from my wallet, which was in my pantu2019s back pocket. While I was doing that, a few women trying to enter and some wanting to leave had gathered around the gate. To give them space, I crossed over with my wallet in hand,u201d explained Raje. u201c The cops then began shoving me to the other side. When I protested, one cop slapped me four to five times, while another hit my leg with a baton. This went on for . . to . . seconds,u201d Raje said. u201c My glasses broke, I somehow managed to save my camera,u201d Raje said. u201c I am clueless as to what made them so angry to beat me mercilessly.u201d Other photojournalists called senior police officials present nearby, including Senior Inspector of Nagpada police, Shalini Sharma. When questioned by Sharma, the officers claimed that they were trying to get Raje out because he kicked them.

The Mumbai Press Club raised the issue with Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

Earlier in the day, when approached by a delegation of journalistsu2019 associations, he apologised for the incident and similar atrocities against journalists by the police. He has also instructed Commissioner of Police Sanjay Barve to meet representatives of journalists.

A medical test at . . Hospital revealed injuries on Rajeu2019s left thigh and on the ring finger of the left hand.

Mumbai Press Clubu2019s statement The Mumbai Press Club in a statement said, u201c The Mumbai Press Club condemns the brutal police atrocity against its member Ashish Raje who was on assignment at Nagpada where anti- CAA sit- in is being held. Two police officers slapped Raje in the face and also hit him with a lathi for no reason, injuring him very badly.

u201c We condemn the violence against the journalist, especially this act by the people who are supposed to uphold the law of the land and not violate it. . ournalists arenu2019t criminals to be treated with this kind of brutality.

u201c We demand that the home department go beyond holding a probe and give the lawless officers a punishment that should prove detrimental for others who resort to similar acts.

u201c We reiterate that the journalist fraternity isnu2019t the enemy of police but has always proved supplementary to the force that maintains law and order. We urge Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to intervene immediately and ensure that the culprits are brought to book and punished.u201d u2018 Why was I beaten up mercilessly?u2019 Even as Ashish Raje comes to terms with the violence, Mumbai Press Club brings focus on how the journalist fraternity has always supported police in maintaining law and order Addl CP ( central region) Veeresh Prabhu is conducting an enquiry into the incident