Attack on scribe: UP govt promises strict action

The Uttar Pradesh government today said strict action would be taken against those who attacked a senior scribe in the state capital recently. The issue was raised by Congress leader Pramod Tiwari, BJP's Hukum Singh and Swami Prasad Maurya (BSP) through an adjournment notice during Zero Hour in the state assembly.

Pramod Tiwari said senior scribe Hemant Tiwari was attacked by some youths travelling in a SUV on June 7 with sticks when he was returning home. The vehicle of the scribe was damaged, he said adding the youths returned to the scene within minutes and tried to crush policemen, who had reached there, under their vehicle.

"Even after four days of the incident, the accused have not been arrested," the Congress member said. Singh said strict action should be initiated against the culprits to prevent recurrence of such incidents. Rejecting the notice, Parliamentary Affairs minister Mohammad Azam Khan said the guilty would be brought to book as early as possible.

Two separate FIRs, one by the driver of the journalist and other by police, have been lodged in Hazratganj Police Station in this connection. A delegation of journalists had earlier met SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on June nine and submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav demanding action against the attackers.