NEW DELHI, India, Dec 2, Reuter: Police arrested five people on Wednesday on charges they attacked six journalists from the Indian Express newspaper ‘with acid and iron bars.
The Press Trust of India (PTI) said one man, an Express employees, was charged with attempted homicide in the attack at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday (2000 GMT Tuesday) in which three journalists were severely burned on their faces with acid.
They were recovering in hospital, PTI said. The other three were released after treatment. The other four accused assailants were charged with breach of peace, PTI said.
The journalists were entering the Express’s Delhi offices as the newspaper prepared to resume publication on Wednesday of its Delhi edition after a seven week strike.
Eyewitnesses quoted by PTI said one of the assailants threw a jug of acid at the six journalists and then all five set on the six with iron bars.
The Express, India’s top selling English language daily, has’ been harshly critical of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s government and has become embroiled in a number of legal disputes with authorities.
The Express has accused the government of harassment and has accused the government of instigating the strike which began on October 14.
The Express is published in 11 cities with a total circulation of 750,000, Editions printed outside Delhi were not affected by the strike.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 11, 1987
