An angry mob attacked the staff of a magazine in the Indian city of Mumbai this morning, leaving at least one of the publication’s employees seriously wounded, according to an IPI source.
Approximately 20 individuals stormed the circulation department of The Week, an English-language magazine published by the Malayala Manorama Group. The magazine’s deputy manager for sales, Geoji Eapen Zacariah, was severely beaten, and at least three other employees sustained injuries.
A number of merchandisers working for the magazine’s distribution agent were believed to be among the mob, leading to speculation that the incident was related to an ongoing unemployment dispute between The Week and the merchandisers. IPI’s source explained that the distributors had demanded regular employment with The Week, which the magazine appeared to have denied.
After a local labour court dismissed their case as unjustified, the distributors allegedly incited members of the Bharatiya Kamagar Sena, a trade union affiliated with Shiv Sena, a regional party of Maharshtra state. The party runs the Greater Mumbai Municipal Corporation, whose “corporator” allegedly took part in the mob.
The source reported that mob members continued to assault the staff even after colleagues in neighbouring offices rushed to rescue the victims. The police eventually arrived at The Week and forced the attackers to leave the building.
“We strongly condemn this violence against The Week’s premises and staff,” IPI Acting Deputy Director Anthony Mills said. “We urge the authorities to launch a swift, professional investigation, to hold the perpetrators accountable, and in doing so to send a strong message that this kind of brazen attack against the media will not be tolerated, especially in a democratic society.”
IPI sent a letter expressing concern over the incident to P. Chidambaram, India’s Home Minister and Prithviraj Chavan, Chief Minister of Maharashtra state.
A full copy of the letter follows:
Mr. P. Chidambaram
Home Minister
Government of India
North Block, New Delhi
Vienna, Apr 19, 2012
Dear Mr. Chidambaram,
Greetings from the International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, leading journalists and media executives dedicated to safeguarding press freedom and promoting good standards of journalism.
I am bringing to your notice the details of an attack that took place today on The Week magazine’s office in Mumbai. IPI was informed that the attack was led by an elected corporator of Mumbai City.
IPI was informed that a mob of 20 persons, which reportedly included Kishori Pednekar, Corporator of Brihat Mumbai Municipal Corporation (Greater Mumbai Municipal Corporation), barged into the office of The Week magazine at Lower Parel, Mumbai today, Thursday, April 19, 2012, at around 10 am.
The Week is an English-language magazine published by the Malayala Manorama Group.
Journalists in India informed the IPI secretariat that the mob marched into the area housing the newspaper’s circulation department and surrounded the circulation team, who were in their morning shift.
Merchandisers of The Week magazine, who work for the magazine’s distribution agent in the city, were also part of the mob, IPI sources told the IPI secretariat.
The mob reportedly attacked the circulation staff of the newspaper without any provocation and severely beat up Geoji Eapen Zachariah, Deputy General Manager of the Sales Department. Other three staff members – Prajesh Kurup, Gururaj Chavan and Satish Gambhir – also suffered injuries.
The mob continued assaulting the staff members even after colleagues in neighbouring offices rushed to rescue the victims.
The police eventually arrived at the newspaper office and forced the attackers to leave the newspaper’s premises.
IPI strongly condemns this brutal attack on a media organisation and its employees and calls on the authorities to take immediate and effective action against the perpetrator.
Yours sincerely,
Carl-Eugen Eberle
Chairman
International Press Institute (IPI) Executive Board
***
Mr. Prithviraj Chavan
Chief Minister of Maharashtra,
Mantralaya, Mumbai
Vienna, Apr 19, 2012
Dear Mr. Chavan,
Greetings from the International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, leading journalists and media executives dedicated to safeguarding press freedom and promoting good standards of journalism.
I am bringing to your notice the details of an attack that took place today on The Week magazine’s office in Mumbai. IPI was informed that the attack was led by an elected corporator of Mumbai City.
IPI was informed that a mob of 20 persons, which reportedly included Kishori Pednekar, Corporator of Brihat Mumbai Municipal Corporation (Greater Mumbai Municipal Corporation), barged into the office of The Week magazine at Lower Parel, Mumbai today, Thursday, April 19, 2012, at around 10 am.
The Week is an English-language magazine published by the Malayala Manorama Group.
Journalists in India informed the IPI secretariat that the mob marched into the area housing the newspaper’s circulation department and surrounded the circulation team, who were in their morning shift.
Merchandisers of The Week magazine, who work for the magazine’s distribution agent in the city, were also part of the mob, IPI sources told the IPI secretariat.
The mob reportedly attacked the circulation staff of the newspaper without any provocation and severely beat up Geoji Eapen Zachariah, Deputy General Manager of the Sales Department. Other three staff members – Prajesh Kurup, Gururaj Chavan and Satish Gambhir – also suffered injuries.
The mob continued assaulting the staff members even after colleagues in neighbouring offices rushed to rescue the victims.
The police eventually arrived at the newspaper office and forced the attackers to leave the newspaper’s premises.
IPI strongly condemns this brutal attack on a media organisation and its employees and calls on the authorities to take immediate and effective action against the perpetrator.
Yours sincerely,
Carl-Eugen Eberle
Chairman
International Press Institute (IPI) Executive Board
