2 journalists targeted in Kaaththaankudi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2008, 21:51 GMT]
Masked men called a senior journalist of Free Media Movement (FMM) out of his house Wednesday 10:30 p.m. in Kaaththaankudi, flung chili powder on his face, and stoned him, but he managed to escape unhurt through the backdoor, sources in Kaaththaankudi said. Meanwhile, unidentified persons set fire to the house of a senior journalist of Rupavahini Televsion causing damage to a section of the house. The news broadcast on Independent TV about Kaaththaankudi residents calling the members of their area not to participate in the first sitting of the Eastern Province Council is said to be the reason for the above attacks, the sources added.

A key minister in the Eastern Province Council is said to be behind these attacks.

FMM President, Sunanda Deshapiriya, condemned the attacks in a report to the media.

M. S. M. Noordeen, of Tharshalam Veethi in Kaaththaankudi 6, is the FMM journalist attacked in the first incident, and T. L. Jabarkan of Central Street, Kaaththaankudi 4, is the senior Sri Lanka Rupavahini Television journalist for Batticaloa whose house was set on fire.

Jabarkan’s wife was asleep while the men poured kersone oil through a window and set fire. On sensing the fire she woke up and tried to put out the fire.

Kaaththaankudi police on receiving the information, rushed to the scene and helped in putting out the fire.

The front portion of the house was damaged.

The two journalists have filed complaints of the attacks with Kaaththaankudi police.

Meanwhile, Kaaththaankudi journalists’ association said that the electronic and print media personnel in Kaaththaankudi will abstain work Friday in Kaaththaankudi until action is taken on the attackers.

The association has also informed all media organizations of the attacks and urged the related authorities to take legal action on the perpetrators.