In a shocking incident that unfolded on the night of Wednesday, 24 January, Tamil Nadu journalist Nesaprabhu fell victim to a brutal attack by an unidentified gang armed with weapons. The horrifying assault has ignited a wave of concern among journalist associations, prompting demands for a comprehensive investigation and raising questions about law and order under the DMK regime.
Journalists from all corners of Tamil Nadu are staging protests to condemn the attack on Nesaprabhu, urging authorities to swiftly bring the assailants to justice. The incident took a dark turn as a chilling phone conversation between the journalist and a police official surfaced, revealing Nesaprabhu's desperate plea for protection from a gang that had been suspiciously tailing him.
Nesaprabhu, while gathering news on that fateful Wednesday, became aware of unknown individuals following him in cars and bikes. Alarmed, he promptly contacted the police control room, providing crucial information about the suspicious activity. The police control room then informed the local Kamanaickenpalayam Police Station.
Shockingly, despite Nesaprabhu's pleas for security, the police allegedly handled the matter indifferently, instructing him to personally file a complaint. Feeling his life was in imminent danger, Nesaprabhu sought refuge in a public area around 9 pm, providing detailed information about the vehicles tailing him.
However, in a tragic turn of events, while still on the phone with the police, Nesaprabhu was surrounded by unidentified persons in five vehicles at a nearby petrol bunk. In a harrowing audio clip circulating on social media, the terrified journalist can be heard urgently seeking assistance as the gang, armed with sickles and knives, brutally attacked him. The assailants fled the scene after the assault.
The Kamanaickenpalayam Police were alerted by locals about the incident, leading to their swift arrival at the scene. Nesaprabhu, lying in a pool of blood, was rescued and rushed to Palladam Hospital. Subsequently, he was transferred to the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Coimbatore for further treatment, having sustained severe injuries to his left hand, along with deep cuts on his leg, chest, and head.
District Superintendent of Police Dr Saminathan IPS inspected the incident site, seizing surveillance footage from the petrol station and nearby areas for investigation.
The brutal attack on Nesaprabhu has triggered widespread outrage across Tamil Nadu, with various news and media associations, including the Chennai Journalists’ Forum and Tiruppur District Journalists’ Association, vehemently condemning the incident. Calls for the immediate arrest of the perpetrators and a thorough investigation into the matter are resonating across journalistic circles and press associations.