The Mumbai Press Club has written to Press Council of India chairperson Markandey Katju requesting him to intervene for securing the release of Mangalore-based TV reporter >Naveen Soorinje who was arrested by the police after he exposed how the Hindu fundamentalists targeted young men and women in the city.
“The Mumbai Press Club demands the immediate release of Mr. Soorinje. Trumped up charges by the police against him should also be dropped forthwith,” a press release issued by the club on Saturday said.
Mr. Soorinje, who worked for Kasturi Newz24 , had video recorded how activists of Hindu Jagarana Vedike >assaulted young men and women while they were celebrating a birthday at a homestay in Mangalore in July last year.
Arrest
In November he was arrested by the Mangalore police, which charged him under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code for criminal conspiracy, using criminal force on a woman with the intention of outraging her modesty, and rioting with deadly weapons.