The basic charge against the victims of ham-handed treatment is that they had tried to take photographs of the wall of the NSI building. This however was not attempted with any sinister intent but in appreciation of the fact that it was one of the very few walls in the city which was free from graffiti. So neither the act nor the motive behind it had anything that should have provoked such hostile action on the part of NSI people. It does not behove any government agency on the side of law to break the norms of civilised conduct towards members of the journalist community. If they were to do so, how would they stand apart from the thugs? Furthermore, the photographers are reported to have lost some of the equipment they were carrying when they came under attack. It seems the attackers were in a vindictive frame of mind; otherwise they wouldn't have pounced on the journalists without giving them a chance to explain themselves. If the latter had committed something wrong in the eye of their tormentors it could have been pointed out with courteous words; but what right did they have to assault the journalists?

We condemn the outrageous show of muscle power.

The assault on the photojournalists must be regarded as an attack on their freedom to work. And this might really mean undermining the press as a whole. The awkward trend will have to be discouraged for the good of society.

An elected government can only be expected to redress the wrongdoing against the journalists who must be allowed to work in an atmosphere conducive to the fulfilment of their professional responsibilities. To this end, the errant should be brought to book.