Raipur: Three bouncers were arrested after allegedly assaulting media personnel at the state-run Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital late Sunday evening. The reporters were at the hospital to cover a story on a person injured in a stabbing incident in Raipur. The bouncers reportedly manhandled the journalists to prevent them from gathering news. The incident has sparked political sparring between the ruling and opposition parties.
While State Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal assured that the accused would be dealt with strictly, Congress general secretary and former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, along with former deputy chief minister T.S. Singhdeo, expressed solidarity with the journalists.
Following the incident, other journalists from Raipur and office-bearers of the Press Club reached the hospital. The bouncers continued to push and shove the journalists, even in the presence of the police.
Journalists and Press Club office-bearers in Raipur staged a protest.
State Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal stated that those who threaten and misbehave with journalists will be dealt with severely. Ambedkar Hospital Superintendent Dr. Santosh Sonkar assured action against the bouncer agency involved in the assault.
Similar incident in Bilaspur
Two days prior, a photojournalist with a Hindi daily and his father were attacked at their home in Bilaspur. Local hooligans, identified as Shekhar Gupta and his associates, were drinking alcohol outside the journalist’s house. When asked to move, the intoxicated individuals assaulted them. Police arrested five accused in this case and paraded them.
What happened at Raipur’s Ambedkar Hospital
Reporters were stopped from reporting on the stabbing victim. The dispute escalated when Wasim Babu, the owner of the agency supplying bouncers to the hospital, arrived with a pistol. Wasim, along with three of his bouncers, began threatening the journalists. In the presence of the police, he pushed female security personnel out of the hospital gate towards the journalists.
Police stopped the reporters at the hospital gate. All journalists began protesting, demanding action against the bouncers. After approximately three hours without any action, the journalists gheraoed the Chief Minister’s residence.
Later, Raipur SSP Dr. Lal Ummed Singh reached the CM’s residence where journalists were protesting. Media personnel demanded that the Ambedkar Hospital Superintendent come there and provide information on the action taken regarding the incident.
Dr. Santosh Sonkar reached the Chief Minister’s House gate, sat on the road, and apologised to the media personnel for the misbehaviour. He also stated that he would recommend cancelling the tender of “Call Me Service“, the agency responsible for hospital security, and ensure such behaviour towards journalists does not happen again.
Health Minister’s assurance
Shyam Bihari Jaiswal spoke with Raipur Press Club President Praful Thakur over the phone. Thakur briefed him on the entire incident. The minister reiterated that strict action would be taken against those who threaten journalists. Following the assurance, journalists suspended their protest outside the CM’s residence late at night.
Police at Maudhapara Police Station registered an FIR. Bouncer agency owner Wasim Babu and two of his associates were arrested. A pistol and bullets were reportedly recovered from Wasim’s house.
Bhupesh Baghel
Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said, “Journalists are not safe in Vishnu Dev Sai’s good governance. If there is any news in their favour, there is applause, but if any attempt is made to report or cover something against the system, then journalists are being attacked. They have to struggle for their safety. I appreciate the courage of journalist colleagues across the country. The government has become autocratic, which does not believe in democracy. I condemn the way attacks are being made on the fourth pillar of democracy…”
T.S. Singhdeo
Former Deputy CM T.S. Singhdeo said, “The unpleasant and violent incident at Mekahara Hospital, the state’s largest and most prominent government hospital, is shocking and highly condemnable.” He added, “The presence of violent and antisocial elements as bouncers in a government hospital, and their misbehaviour towards journalists in the administration’s presence, clearly shows the state of law and order and freedom of the press in the state.” He pledged to raise his voice for journalists’ safety and freedom.
