Policemen beat photojournalist outside Mumbai Bagh protest site

A senior photojournalist Ashish Raje out on assignment for midday was assaulted by police officers at Mumbai Bagh in Nagpada where he had gone to cover the ongoing antiCAA protests on Thursday The incident happened around 3 pm when Raje waiting outside the barricade crossed over to let a group of women pass mdash only to be assaulted by the copsHome Minister Anil Deshmukh has taken cognisance of the incident The Mumbai Bagh protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act CAA and National Register of Citizens NRC at Morland Road completed 12 days on ThursdayBaton wounds on his thighOn Thursday evening the greatgrandson of Mahatma Gandhi Tushar Gandhi was expected to visit the protest There was also speculation that the protest may end in the evening It was a day full of activity and I went there around 3 pm After clicking some pictures I and another photojournalist took a break and came out of the lane Raje saidWatch the full video belowA senior photojournalist Mr Ashish Raje working with mid_day has been manhandled by Mumbai police officials He was on official assignment in Nagpada Request OfficeofUT to look into this CPMumbaiPolice MumbaiPolice DGPMaharashtra pictwittercomU9lL1B49cfmdash Diwakar Sharma DiwakarSharmaa February 6 2020I was going back to the protest when at the barricade marking the entrance two young male officers demanded my ID card I was carrying a backpack and a camera lens so it was a little difficult to get the ID from my wallet which was in my pants back pocket While I was doing that a few women trying to enter and some wanting to leave had gathered around the gate To give them space I crossed over with my wallet in hand explained Raje The cops then began shoving me to the other side When I protested one cop slapped me four to five times while another hit my leg with a baton This went on for 60 to 90 seconds Raje said My glasses broke I somehow managed to save my camera Raje said I am clueless as to what made them so angry to beat me mercilesslyRaje protecting his cameraOther photojournalists called senior police officials present nearby including Senior Inspector of Nagpada police Shalini Sharma When questioned by Sharma the officers claimed that they were trying to get Raje out because he kicked them Sharma rubbished the claims and asked Raje and other journalists to share their story After a video of the incident went viral additional commissioner of police central region Veeresh Prabhu assured Raje of action The Mumbai Press Club raised the issue with Home Minister Anil DeshmukhJust got to know about the way Ashish Raje media photographer of Mumbai press club was manhandled by the policeThis is an appalling act amp I will personally look into the inquiry of this matter Strict disciplinary action shall be taken against those involved mumbaipressclub Deshmukh tweetedAddl CP central region Veeresh Prabhu is conducting an enquiry into the incidentEarlier in the day when approached by a delegation of journalists associations he apologised for the incident and similar atrocities against journalists by the police He has also instructed Commissioner of Police Sanjay Barve to meet representatives of journalistsA medical test at JJ Hospital revealed injuries on Rajes left thigh and on the ring finger of the left handMumbai Press Clubs statementThe Mumbai Press Club in a statement said The Mumbai Press Club condemns the brutal police atrocity against its member Ashish Raje who was on assignment at Nagpada where antiCAA sitin is being held Two police officers slapped Raje in the face and also hit him with a lathi for no reason injuring him very badlyWe condemn the violence against the journalist especially this act by the people who are supposed to uphold the law of the land and not violate it Journalists arent criminals to be treated with this kind of brutalityWe demand that the home department go beyond holding a probe and give the lawless officers a punishment that should prove detrimental for others who resort to similar actsWe reiterate that the journalist fraternity isnt the enemy of police but has always proved supplementary to the force that maintains law and order We urge Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to intervene immediately and ensure that the culprits are brought to book and punishedCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates