A Janam TV news team was attacked by Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) workers in Vanchiyoor, Thiruvananthapuram, while reporting on a collapsed road and water logging due to heavy rains. The incident underscores the growing tension between the media and political factions in the region.
The incident occurred when the Janam TV team, consisting of reporter Shalini, cameraman Vivek, and camera assistant Arun, arrived at the scene following reports from local residents about the road and railing crumbling into a canal due to heavy rains. As the team was documenting the site, CPM workers, allegedly led by Baburaj, intervened aggressively, attempting to halt the reporting and damage the equipment.
Witnesses reported that the CPM goons tried to physically assault the Janam TV team and successfully damaged their camera, breaking its LCD screen. Baburaj, in a particularly reprehensible act, engaged in body-shaming reporter Shalini, further exacerbating the situation. “Enough is enough, better take the camera away,” he shouted, demonstrating blatant disregard for press freedom and personal dignity.
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Adding to the outrage, Baburaj allegedly assaulted a local resident who was explaining the situation to the media. This incident underscores the severe intimidation faced by journalists and local citizens attempting to highlight public grievances.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Gayathri Babu, the current councillor of the division and Baburaj’s daughter, has not visited the affected area or addressed her father’s actions. Gayathri succeeded her father in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation after his tenure as the Standing Committee Chairman ended.
One third of the road and the handrailing had collapsed into the canal. Even two wheelers cannot travel on the road at the moment. The plight of the road affects hundreds of houses in the area; hence, people have been complaining since the wee hours of the day. That is how the Janam TV team got there.
The Thiruvananthapuram district committee of the Kerala Working Journalist Union (KUWJ) has condemned the attack on the Janam TV team, including a female journalist, and demanded immediate police action against those responsible.
This incident highlights the discrepancies between the claims of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan regarding their commitment to women’s protection and press freedom. The attack on Janam TV’s team starkly contrasts with the government’s previous assertions, particularly their actions during the 2019 Sabarimala temple entry controversy and the organization of the ‘Women’s Wall’ event, which allegedly cost Rs 50 crore.
Despite their vocal support for women’s rights and press freedom, this recent episode has exposed the hypocrisy within the CPM leadership. Notably, the woman Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram did not reach out to console Janam TV reporter Shalini, further highlighting the government’s inconsistent stance on women’s safety and media freedom.
