The Hindu : Mediapersons `assaulted' inside Chidambaram temple

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 08, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Cuddalore

Mediapersons `assaulted' inside Chidambaram temple

By Our Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE Jan. 7. The mediapersons who had gone to cover the Aarudhra darshan in Natarajar Temple at Chidambaram today were allegedly manhandled by a group of persons, suspected to be priests, on the temple precincts. Their cameras were either damaged or snatched away.

Four of the mediapersons, including the Jaya TV reporter, Sanjeevi Venkatesan, the Malaimalar reporter, Sivarajan, and the Dinamalar photographers, Ramesh and Kotteeswaran, who were said to have been assaulted by certain dikshitars or priests.

The video camera of the Jaya TV and one still camera, besides three cell phones of the media persons were missing, while a digital camera of Ramesh was fully damaged.

Mr. Sanjeevi Venkatesan alleged that he along with other mediapersons was recording the proceedings by standing at a place far away from the deities.

He said they were taking pictures of the devotees who had gathered there in large numbers and not the deities as claimed by the priests.

Mr. Sanjeevi Venkatesan said when one of the assailants violently pulled his camera bag, he fell down. After the incident, the mediapersons staged a dharna at the main entrance to the temple, raising slogans against the act.

Later, the mediapersons went in a procession from the temple via Keela Veedhi, Therkku Veedhi and Mela Veedhi to the office of the Revenue Divisional Officer and submitted a memorandum decrying the treatment meted out to them and seeking the return of the cameras or compensation for the damage caused to the instruments.

They also lodged a complaint with the Chidambaram Town police station in this regard, naming four dikshitars. Meanwhile, the priests denied that they had indulged in such activities.

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