According to reports from India received by CPJ, 50 armed men attacked the Madurai office of the Tamil-language daily newspaper "Dinamalar" in the early morning of 1 March 1998. Bearing clubs and knives, the armed men assaulted the office watchman, hurled four molotov cocktails, and destroyed property which included press equipment, windows, electrical fixtures, furniture, and automobiles. This action came during the country's parliamentary elections and followed the newspaper's recent critical coverage of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party.
Local journalists' organizations and local leaders of various political parties have condemned the incident. Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has ordered an investigation into the attack. No arrests have been made as yet.
