The Editors Guild of India on Thursday condemned the arrest of the news editor of Tamil daily Dinamalar B. Lenin by the Tamil Nadu government. It also demanded his immediate release.
In a statement, the Guild expressed shock over the manner in which plainclothesmen dragged Mr. Lenin out of his office without a warrant. He was then hastily produced before a magistrate and denied access to legal assistance.
Mr. Lenin has since been remanded to 15 days of judicial custody without his version being heard, the statement noted.
According to the Guild, the State government and police acted in this manner due to the “undemocratic pressure” exerted by a group of actors who wanted the newspaper to be punished without being given the opportunity to explain its version about a report involving an actor.
Besides Mr. Lenin’s release, the Guild demanded action against the policemen who disturbed the editorial functioning of Dinamalar, thereby posing a threat to the freedom of the press.
