A female journalist from the Press Trust of India (PTI) was physically assaulted by a male journalist affiliated with ANI.
During a press conference led by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar in Bengaluru on Thursday, a heated exchange between the two was captured on camera, as both reporters engaged in a heated argument.
The ANI journalist struck the woman journalist with a slap.
Prompt intervention from other members of the media prevented further harm, as they pushed back the ANI journalist.
National Commission for Women member Khusbhu Sundar on Thursday condemned the physical and verbal abuse of the PTI female journalist in Bengaluru and demanded immediate action.
An FIR has also been registered by the PTI reporter against the ANI journalist in Bengaluru.
ANI editor Naveen Kapoor said in a post on X that the reporter has been suspended while investigations are going on.
The incident happened at a press event of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and his MP-brother D K Suresh on Thursday.
The PTI reporter said that the ANI correspondent physically assaulted and abused her with sexual expletives. The incident was captured on camera and the ANI reporter was seen striking the young woman reporter twice on the face while he was pulled away by other journalists and people in the scrum.
Reacting to the incident, NCW member Khusbhu Sundar demanded action in the matter.
"I vehemently condemn the behaviour of the male journalist who is seen physically and verbally abusing the PTI female journalist in Bengaluru today. Want @smitaprakash to take action immediately," she said in a post on X.
Kapoor said in his X post that, "ANI does not in any manner condone or approve of violence by journalists in the field".
He claimed that the PTI post is "selective and seeks to suppress the first attack by the PTI journalist as per what our reporter tells us".
"Our reporter is also filing a First Information Report in relation to the unprovoked attack on him. We trust the legal process to take its course and disclose the complete facts," he said.
However, he said, "Till the investigation process is not completed, the ANI reporter has been suspended".
PTI stands by its report and denies that its reporter assaulted the ANI journalist.
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