A senior journalist with a national English news channel onWednesday alleged he was beaten up by policemen while reporting on lockdown inadjoining Thane district.
Uttkarsh Chaturvedi, deputy news editor with ET Now, aleading business news channel, said he showed his press card, but that did notstop men in uniform from hitting him with sticks.
He said the incident took place near Dahisar Check Post inwestern suburbs which falls under the jurisdiction of the Thane Rural police.
The media has been exempted from restrictions put in placeunder the nationwide lockdown clamped to contain the spread of coronavirus.Police personnel have been patrolling the streets to enforce the lockdown.
The incident came to light when Chaturvedi tweeted hisordeal and tagged the Mumbai police and Maharashtra Chief Minister UddhavThackeray on their Twitter handles.
He said, Was reporting on my bike ahead of Dahisar CheckNaka where policemen before beating me with sticks before even asking.
“Four five policemen kept hitting until I had to racemy bike ahead. Showed them my press card as well.
In another post, the journalist said the SP of Thane Ruralhas been informed about the incident.
Shivaji Rathod, the SP of Thane Rural, did not respond tophone calls and message sent in this regard.
The incident led to criticism of the police on Twitter.
And this is also happening. My colleague Uttkarsh facespolice brutality as he goes to report. Media is a part essential services.
“Our reportage gives people the true picture of actionbeing taken in these extraordinary times @CMOMaharashtra,” one of theTwitter user said.