The assault that happened on Thursday was caught on camera and was posted by the PTI on their official account on X.
A screen grab from the video of ANI reporter attacking the PTI female reporter at Ramanagara on Thursday. (Supplied)
News agency ANI’s reporter, identified as Raghavendra, was granted bail on Saturday, 30 March after he was arrested by the Ramanagara police.
Raghavendra was arrested on Saturday, for assaulting a PTI woman reporter identified as Elizabeth Kurian during a political rally on Thursday, 28 March.
The accused was produced before the magistrate after his arrest and was granted bail.
The incident occurred in Ramanagara, during the nomination rally of Congress Bengaluru Rural MP candidate DK Suresh.
The assault was caught on camera and was posted by the PTI on their official account on X. Following this, the PTI reporter filed the complaint before the Ramanagara Police.
A counter-complaint was filed by the ANI reporter on the same day, claiming he also was assaulted by the PTI reporter.
Reporter with @ANI – Raghavendra – who assaulted a woman reporter with @PTI_News has been arrested by @spramanagara. Accused to be produced before magistrate. https://t.co/AA11qUpXPK
— Anusha Ravi Sood (@anusharavi10) March 30, 2024
Elizabeth narrated the incident to South First on Thursday, “The altercation started when there were some issues while placing the mic during DK Suresh’s political rally. While Suresh was stepping out, security personnel started to push everyone, on the other hand, he appeared to be intentionally pushing me.”
“It is very difficult to explain the situation I was in. He soon started abusing me. He not only pushed me but also groped me and grabbed my T-shirt. Thereafter, he slapped me twice. I wanted to slap him back but I didn’t.”
Referring to the allegations of ANI reporter, Elizabeth said, “However, while retaliating my mic touched his chin, causing a very minor injury. Apart from this, I have not done anything to him. Even the other journalists lashed out at him and questioned his wrongful act.”
Apart from the police complaint, PTI has also registered a case before the National Commission for Women (NCW).
The ANI reporter in question took to X to claim the PTI reported verbally abused him and instigated first. The reporter, in the description, claimed he was a “Kannada speaker” and went on to justify his actions.
VIDEO | Abominable behaviour by ANI (@ANI) reporter who physically assaulted and verbally abused with sexual expletives a young PTI female reporter at a press event (@DKShivakumar @DKSureshINC) in Bengaluru today. Does ANI (@smitaprakash) condone such behaviour by its staffer?… pic.twitter.com/kZhz8MleoC
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 28, 2024
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula)
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