The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is shocked and angered by an attack on a group of journalists by activists of the Students' Federation of India in the city of Kottayam, in the southern Indian state of Kerala, on June 25. Five journalists were injured, two of them seriously.

The Students' Federation of India is an affiliate of the main constituent of Kerala's ruling coalition.

According to reports received by the IFJ, the activists, without provocation, turned on journalists who had been assigned to report on their demonstration.

Pradeep Joseph, a reporter with the Manorama News TV channel, sought safety in a police van, but was dragged out and assaulted. C. Abhilash, a cameraman with the same network, was also assaulted. The condition of the two men is reported to be serious.

Other media personnel to suffer injuries are Nishad Kurien and Arun John, both reporters with Malayala Manorama, the leading daily newspaper in the state, and C. Sabu, a driver with Manorama News TV.

"The IFJ condemns this outrageous action by student activists in Kerala and deplores the evident failure of the police to prevent it," IFJ Asia-Pacific said.

"The IFJ is also deeply concerned that the police may have shown insufficient seriousness in bringing the attackers to account, since the few people who were detained were released almost immediately".

The IFJ extends its support to the injured media personnel and expresses its solidarity with the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ), which is seeking to ensure that the injured are well cared for.

The IFJ welcomes the unequivocal condemnation of the attack by the chief minister of Kerala, V.S. Achutanandan, and urges him to ensure that appropriate action is taken against the perpetrators.

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 122 countries