Supporters of sacked Rajasthan Minister Mahipal Maderna, who is facing probe in Bhanwari Devi disappearance case, on Sunday allegedly attacked mediapersons as well as an under-construction office of a vernacular news channel.
Some reporters were trying to talk to Maderna's daughter Divya on the Bhanwari Devi issue outside the hospital, where he was hospitalised after he complained of chest pain, when they were targeted by around 20-25 supporters of the sacked minister, police said, adding two persons received minor injuries while an OB van of a news channel was damaged.
The injured were identified as Devankur of Headlines Today and a driver of the OB van of Star News. Few supporters of Maderna also ransacked an under- construction office a vernacular news channel ETV.
They tried to break open the doors and pelted stones at the building. Over hundred Jat supporters of Maderna gathered at the hospital to enquire about his health. Hitting out at the media, Maderna's wife Leela said: "Media and TV have fully destroyed us. You write whatever you want. This TV and media should be closed down."
Leela too has been quizzed by the CBI in connection with the case of Bhanwari, an auxiliary nurse midwife at a sub-centre in Jaliwada village who went missing on September 1.
Maderna was sacked from the state cabinet on October 16 after his name cropped up in the case. Cases have been registered against unidentified people in connection with today's incidents.
Additional police personnel have been deployed in the area and efforts are being made to identify the culprits, police said. The BJP and the JD(U) condemned the attack on mediapersons.
Speaking in Kanpur, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav demanded stern action the culprits. The Pink City Press club condemned the attack and will submit a memorandum to the Home Minister Shanti Dhariwal and DGP Harish Meena. "Attack on media is highly condemnable and government should ensure security to the mediapersons," Neeraj Mehra, Club General Secretary, said.