On 25 October 1996, at least five journalists were assaulted after they and approximately seven other print and broadcast reporters had assembled in front of the residence of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Kanshi Ram to question him about his party's plans following hung assembly elections in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
After asking the journalists what they were doing there, an enraged Ram slapped one of the correspondents, Ashutosh Gupta of Aaj Tak Television, and called on his retinue to beat and shoot the journalists. Ram's staff and security detail -- which included plainclothes members of the Delhi police -- immediately attacked the journalists present. Two of the reporters were severely beaten, including Gupta and BiTV correspondent Isar Ahmed, who was subsequently hospitalised for chest injuries.
At least three other journalists were assaulted in the incident, including New Delhi Television correspondent Maya Mirchandani, "Indian Express" photographer Renuka Puri, and "Pioneer" photographer Anil Sharma.
Although Delhi police registered a criminal complaint of "rioting and voluntarily causing hurt" against Ram and several of his staff members and security guards, there have been no arrests made to date. The police also registered a counter-complaint filed by Ram and his supporters that charged the journalists involved with "obstructing a public servant in the discharge of his duty" as well as rioting. There has been no investigation into the case by the Home Ministry, which has instead referred the matter to the Press Council of India -- a body which is only empowered to make non-binding recommendations.
The failure of authorities to press criminal charges against Ram and his associates has prompted protests by journalists throughout India. However, police in Delhi have harshly suppressed two of the largest demonstrations. A journalists' procession to the Home Minister's office on 26 October was blocked by eight barricades erected by Delhi police. When the journalists overran the barricades, police fired teargas shells and used a water cannon to disperse them. On 28 October, Delhi police arrested and briefly detained three hundred journalists who were attempting to hold a protest march from the Indian Newspapers Society Building to Parliament House.
