M A I N   N E W S

Delhi cop assaults Tribune lensman
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 31
A photographer of The Tribune, Manas Ranjan Bhui, was assaulted by a Delhi Police constable while taking pictures of a rampaging elephant in central Delhi this afternoon.

The constable, Sandeep Twetia, posted at the Desh Bandhu Gupta Road police station has been suspended.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central District) Alok Kumar later apologised to Bhui saying: “Such a thing should not have happened. We are sorry for it. We are also sorry that senior police officers present at the scene failed to help you.”

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Public Grievances) JK Sharma will conduct an inquiry into the incident.

“Departmental action will be taken against the constable. I have asked the photographer to meet the officer on Monday and record his version,” he said.

Bhui claimed he was pushed and slapped by the constable as he took pictures of the elephant in front of Rajghat around 12.15 pm.

“There was no provocation. I kept telling him (the constable) that I was a Press photographer, so he should let me do my job,” said Bhui.

Video clips of the incident showed the constable in Delhi Police uniform grabbing the photographer by the collar and slapping him. Bhui dropped to the ground with camera in his hand.

“A constable came up to me and said I could not take photographs. I told him that I was from the Press, but he kept pushing me,” he said.

“I saw a cameraman and called out to him. The constable held me by my collar and slapped me,” said Bhui.