CM Orders Probe into Assault on Media Persons
Patna: Sept. 18, 2007
 Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday ordered a high-level probe into the assault on media reporters who were covering a fire incident at Vishal Mega Mart on Frazer Road in Patna on Monday instructing the Chief Secretary A. K. Chowdhary to find out if any state laws were violated in the construction of the mall and who were involved in the attack on the scribes.
On Tuesday, a delegate of Patna reporters met with the Chief Minister and demanded legal actions against the mall owner, its occupants, and the police officials who took active part in the assault that left many reporters and photographers injured, some in serious conditions.
During the meeting, Kumar called up the Chief Secretary and instructed him to launch a probe into the incident with focus on fire and parking infractions by the mall owners.
Earlier, during a meeting of the press reporters under the banner of Media Action Forum, reporters from various news outlets demanded a full investigation into the incident and demanded tough measures against all guilty parties.
 On Monday while the entire city was busy celebrating Vishwakarma Puja, a handful of reporters arrived at the Mega Mall to cover an incident of fire. However, once there, the occupants of the building clashed with them refusing to allow them entry into the building and roughing them up with hockey sticks and other objects.
Situation further got out of hand when a passing-by BMP flying squad arrived at the scene and roughed up the reporters at the behest of the mall tenants.
More than half a dozen reporters were injured in the assault and their cameras damaged.
So far eleven persons have been taken into police custody, reports said.
Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal leaders in Patna on Tuesday burnt the effigy of the Chief Minister at Kargil Chowk to protest against the attack on media men while demanding imposition of President's Rule in Bihar.
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