Karnataka: Driver of newspaper van attacked by the Hindu Right; 4,000 copies of the paper taken away

The Hindu

MANGALORE, February 10, 2013

Driver of van carrying Karavali Ale attacked

Staff Correspondent

Activists of right-wing group take away 4,000 copies of the paper

Members of a right-wing group, which is allegedly behind the attack on a staff of the Kannada daily Karavali Ale on Wednesday, prevented distribution of the newspaper on Saturday. They assaulted the driver of a van that carried the newspaper bundles in the afternoon.

Allegation

B.V. Seetharam, director and chairman of Chitra Publications that publishes the newspaper, said a group of Hindu Jagaran Vedike activists attacked Raju, the driver, near Kulai when he was returning after delivering copies of the newspaper in Kundapur. Mr. Seetaram said the vedike activists snatched the keys of the vehicle and beat up Mr. Raju. They threatened him against carrying the copies of the paper in future.

Mr. Seetharam said the vedike activists had been following Mr. Raju’s vehicle when he was on his way to Kundapur. They waylaid the vehicle near Haleyangady soon after a policeman, who was travelling with the driver, got off the vehicle. They took away 4,000 copies of the paper.

Mr. Seetharam alleged that the Suratkal police had failed to arrest the people who were involved in the attack on his staff.

He said distribution of the newspaper had been affected in several parts of the city . Senior police officials had been informed about the incident, Mr. Seetharam added.

Distribution of the newspaper affected in Mangalore

A staff of Karavali Ale was attacked on Wednesday