Even as CBI officials spent the day analysing the evidence they had gathered in the case of missing nurse Bhanwari Devi, supporters of sacked minister Mahipal Maderna attacked mediapersons outside the MDM Hospital in Jodhpur on Sunday. The journalists took out a protest march in Jaipur and condemned the incident demanding action against the attackers. The ruling Congress and Opposition BJP also condemned the incident .
The incident occurred a day after Maderna’s wife Lila had openly called on supporters to boycott newspapers and channels and smash their camera equipment if they come for coverage. Maderna was hospitalised on Saturday late night after complaining of chest pain. The mediapersons had gathered outside the hospital with OB vans. They were caught unawares when suddenly a group of Maderna supporters started beating them.
A journalist with a private TV channel, Devankur, was thrashed by the supporters and the unruly mob vandalised the OB van. They also beat up a journalist working with a local channel. “They started attacking me when I was trying to talk to one of the family members of Maderna. They abused me and warned me with dire consequences. I did try my best to pacify them, but it did not work,” said a TV journalist. According to the mediapersons in Jodhpur, the policemen were present at the spot but they failed to protect them. “For the last three days, it was so difficult for mediapersons in Jodhpur to follow the investigations,” said a journalist from Jodhpur.