PTI

Patna, Nov 1: A reporter and a cameraman of a private news channel were on Thursday allegedly beaten up by Bihar MLA Anant Singh who has been arrested following the incident.

The reporter, Prakash Singh and cameraman Habib Ali of NDTV 24X7 had visited the residence of Anant Singh this morning to inquire about the killing of a woman Reshma Khatoon.

The victim was allegedly raped about a fortnight ago by the 'henchmen' of the Mokama MLA, who is known to use strong arm tactics. Several news channels had reportedly received letters a few days ago saying that staffers of TV channels may be targeted.

They had again received anonymous letters saying the woman has been killed and her body thrown at a place under the Shastri Nagar police station, a few kms from the MLA's mall road residence.

When a woman's body was recovered from the Shastri Nagar locality on Wednesday evening, the reporter, suspecting it might be that of Reshma, wanted to have reaction from the MLA.

The journalist had first contacted Anant Singh over phone for an appointment which was granted. “The MLA got angry when I approached him for his reaction and hurled abuses and beat me and Habib Ali with rifle butts and batons. Some of his henchmen too joined in,” Prakash Singh said.

Ali, however, managed to escape and went to the house of the Director General of Police Ashish Ranjan Sinha.

On being informed that the journalist had been assaulted and illegally confined at the house of the MLA, the sentry on duty at the DGP's house insisted that he should file a written complaint.

Ali then rushed to the Sachivalaya police station nearby and filed his complaint. During the probe, a team headed by deputy superintendent of police Shridha Mandal rescued the reporter after about an hour in captivity.

Journalists of the electronic and print media, who were informed by Ali of the incident, reached the MLA's residence and raised slogans against him. Enraged at this, the MLA and his henchmen attacked them with sticks in which a journalist of the TV news agency ANI, Ajay Kumar's hand was fractured and his camera smashed.

An FIR was lodged against Anant Singh and his associates Mukesh Singh and Bipin Singh with the Sachivalaya police station in connection with the incident.

Senior superintendent of police Kundan Krishnan, who visited the Gardanibagh hospital where the injured journalists were treated, told PTI that appropriate action be taken against the MLA and his supporters named in the FIR after an inquiry.