Kolkata:
Six journalists and TV crew were injured, three of them seriously, in an attack allegedly by CPM cadres near Pirakata, close to Maoist-stronghold of Lalgarh in troubled West Midnapore district of West Bengal on Friday.
Even as Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee denied having any knowledge about the incident, the injured journalists said their cars had been intercepted by armed persons, alleged to be CPM cadres, "who threatened us with dire consequences."
"I have no knowledge (about the assault)," Buddhadeb shot back when asked to comment on the incident.
However, IGP (Law and Order) S K Purakayastha admitted that some TV journalists had been assaulted near Lalgarh.
"Such an incident of assault has taken place and a specific case has been initiated," he told reporters. He said offenders would be identified and arrested.