AYODHYA: Violent kar sevaks stripped a local woman journalists of Pratidin stabbed a Sunday magazine reporter beat up a BBC camera-man and assaulted about 12 photo-journalists here as media persons became targets of attack along with the nearly 453-yearold Babri Masjid.
The woman journalist subjected to the humiliating treatment was branded a Pakistani spy and hounded by kar sevaks.
The kar sevaks branding media persons as sarkari anti-Hindu and charging them with presenting distorted facts stopped reporters from taking notes or even catching a glimpse of the destruction being wreaked on the mosque.
They smashed cameras exposed reels confiscated money and photographic equipment and beat up photo journalists. They hounded press-persons asking them to open their bags and show whether they carried cameras or tape-recorders Reporters were asked not to take down anything in writing.
Nitin Rai of Sunday was stabbed in the arm Pablo Bartholomew of an international photo agency was injured film-maker Romesh Sharmas crew had its cameras smashed and thrown away. The BBC cameraman was beaten and has been hospitalized in Lucknow. Rajiv Tiwari of Maya magazine and Sanjay Sharma of the Hindustan Times had their equipment snatched.
By late Dec.6 the tally of photographers who fell into the hands of the kar sevaks was still being compiled.
Everywhere the story was the same as kar sevaks sat in judgments on media-persons and meted out their own brand of punishment.
Foreign journalists easily identifiable were escorted by CRPF personnel and taken to nearby shelters. Others trying to escape the eye and hostility were unobtrusively donning saffron scarves so that they could continue with their job.
On the nearby terrace of Manas Bhavan kar sevaks not only stopped photos or notes being taken but prevented journalists from getting anywhere near the edge to get a glimpse of what was happening at the complex.
Press cars became the target of attack and several could be seen with windscreens and windows and lights smashed.
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