Policenama Online: Sub-Inspector and three constables were suspended in connection with a lathicharge on reporters covering election of temple trust in Junagad town, around 320 kilometres from here.The incident took place on Sunday outside Swaminarayan Temple in Junagadh when the election of the temple trust was underway, and was captured on camera.
Earlier in the day, Gujarat Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja said he had ordered an inquiry and asked Junagadh SP to lead it.In one of the videos of the incident aired by news channels, policemen, including some in civil uniform, can be seen pushing away a cameramen and then hitting media crew with batons. A policeman can also be seen slapping a TV channel cameraman.
Junagadh Superintendent of Police Saurabh Singh said late Monday evening that he has ordered the suspension of sub inspector JP Gosai and three constables.
“Following an inquiry and after going through the video footage of the incident, I have suspended PSI JP Gosai and three constables of Junagad police. While Gosai was the one who slapped a mediaperson, the three constables were involved in either lathicharge or in manhandling media crew present there,” said Singh.
Reporters claimed police hit them when they were covering a confrontation between two persons over an election-related issue in the premises of the Swaminarayan Temple.