Beijing, Aug 20 (IANS): An official in east China's Zhejiang province was Monday dismissed from his post after he allegedly pushed a cameraman into a fish pond.
Shi Guofeng was sacked as the deputy secretary of the township committee of the Communist Party of China, in Balidian of Wuxing district in Huzhou city, Xinhua reported. He was also placed on a one-year probation.
The journalist with the Zhejiang Provincial TV Station, who was reporting about fish being killed in the pond, reportedly ignored Shi's requests to stop shooting.
His camera worth 220,000 yuan (around $35,000) was damaged as it also went into the pond.
People flooded the cyberspace with messages on the need to safeguard media's supervisory role.
"Don't let the supervisory role of the media sink along with the journalist's camera," said a commentary on the website of Southern Metropolis Daily.