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Jallikattu: Tamil Nadu cops target WION camera crew

WION
New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Jan 24, 2017, 11:56 AM IST
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The WION team was targeted by Tamil Nadu police during the Jallikattu agitation at Marina beach. Photograph:(WION)


The Jallikattu row ended in Chennai amid violence in various parts of Tamil Nadu. WION's correspondent Ramesh Ramachandran who was reporting live from Marina beach - the epicenter of the agitation - was caught in the crossfire several times. 

The Tamil Nadu police repeatedly targeted WION correspondent Ramesh Ramachandran, not allowing him to report on events unfolding at Marina beach even though he had permission from the police. As the event was being covered live, Tamil Nadu cops manhandled Ramesh Ramachandran which resulted in an argument and amid the chaos WION's OB cable was damaged and the crew was forced to push back from the actual spot.

It was not just casual bystanders and auto drivers who bore the brunt of police arson in Chennai on Monday, WION's camera crew headed by Ramesh Ramachandran was repeatedly manhandled by the cops (WION)

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It did not end there, as the police began hitting the crowd with batons in the afternoon and the crowd retaliated by pelting stones, the Tamil Nadu police forced Ramesh Ramachandran to rush back to the van and prevented the WION crew from shooting the chaotic scenes at Marina beach. Ramesh Ramachandran sustained injuries himself as the police were hitting agitators. WION's OB van was smashed with both driver and engineer sustaining injuries. 

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Ramesh said the Tamil Nadu police mercilessly lathicharged the crowd and held the media responsible for the situation which quickly went out of hand. In fact, the Tamil Nadu police was criticised by actor Kamal Hassan in a series of tweets as he sought to know why police took action when the students were peacefully awaiting the decision the Tamil Nadu assembly on the matter. Many protestors stayed put despite police action and accused the cops of unnecessarily using force on a peaceful agitation.

WION team was targeted by Tamil Nadu police during the Jallikattu agitation at Marina beach. (WION)

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(WION)