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CISF cover for The Hindu

By Our Tamil Nadu Bureau

Chennai Nov.11. Faced with intimidatory tactics by the Tamil Nadu police, The Hindu today sought and obtained the deployment of Central security forces to protect the institution and its employees facing harassment in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's order on Monday.

The Editor-in-Chief, N. Ram, wrote to the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, expressing apprehension concerning the security of The Hindu offices and its staff. Even after the Supreme Court order staying the arrest of The Hindu's representatives, policemen were moving about in front of the office creating an atmosphere of hostility and insecurity, which interfered with the functioning of the newspaper, he said in his letter. Immediately thereafter, the Central Industrial Security Force was asked to provide security to The Hindu.

In view of the situation, entry to the offices of The Hindu here was restricted.

Earlier, Mr. Ram told reporters that the security staff of the newspaper had got reports of intimidation by policemen, who had gone to the homes of some employees and were acting in a hostile manner. They were also swarming around the offices and noting down car numbers.

Governor apprised

The Joint Managing Director, N. Murali, had spoken to the Tamil Nadu Governor, P.S. Ramamohan Rao, and briefed him on the situation. The response from the Governor was immediate and positive.

On Monday, only the facts had been put forth by the newspaper and no request was made to anyone.

Mr. Ram said the decision to seek Central security had been taken reluctantly, as the harassment was going on despite the Supreme Court order staying the arrest of senior journalists of The Hindu and the Editor of Murasoli. The Hindu had not overreacted, but "underreacted" to the harassment.

Mr. Ram said that it was a settled law that all controversies and issues relating to the legislature's powers were subject to judicial interpretation, review and the law of the land.

Asked about the silence of the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker, K. Kalimuthu, and senior police officials on the Supreme Court's stay order, he said they were entitled to remain silent. "Whether it is a wise thing to do is a different matter."

Mr. Ram said there had been a "real breakthrough" in the Bangalore incident, where the car in which he was travelling with Mr. Murali was waylaid by plainclothesmen from Tamil Nadu. A policeman had been identified. This would show those who orchestrated the outrage in a poor light.

Answering questions on a new criminal defamation petition filed against the newspaper, the Editor-in-Chief said it was an old issue that was surfacing in a new `avatar.' The news article in question, published on April 13, 2003, had already gone to the privileges committee and the sentence of seven days imprisonment that was sought to be imposed by the Assembly was dropped at the instance of the Chief Minister. This was now revived as a criminal defamation case after the Supreme Court passed the orders. The latest petition was the 17th such case against The Hindu. There was a need to look at a new legal strategy to tackle these cases, he added.

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