Even as police arrest three more security guards for assaulting photojournalists, company owner Rahul Nanda says he will terminate them. Will Tata Sons follow suit and sack Tops?
Lensmen Atul Kamble, Arijit Sen and SL Shanth Kumar who were assaulted outside Bombay House
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The MRA Marg police have arrested three more guards of TOPSGRUP security for attacking photojournalists outside Bombay House on Friday.
Global chairman of the security firm Rahul Nanda told mid-day, "As a policy, we do not support violence of any kind within the organisation. What the men did was out of order.
Also Read: Watch video: Tata's security 'thugs' attack press photographers
TOPS chief Rahul Nanda
After conducting our own internal investigation, we have decided to terminate them over this unfortunate episode. As a group, we work with and by the law and will not support anyone breaking the law."
The three arrested — Shankar Ayyar, Ashok Bamne and Manvir Prajapati — were produced in the Ballard Pier Magistrate Court, which sent them to judicial custody till November 11. A total of five have been arrested so far. Two more arrests are likely to take place soon.
Open violence
On November 4, several photojournalists had gathered outside Bombay House to click former Tata Group president Cyrus Mistry, who had arrived there to attend a board meeting.
The trouble started after the camera of one of the lensmen brushed a security guard's face. Even though all the photographers tried to pacify the guards, saying it had happened by accident, the angry guards thrashed them mercilessly.
mid-day photographer Atul Kamble was taken to Bombay House to record a spot panchnama yesterday. Pic/Satej Shinde
mid-day photographer Atul Kamble, Times of India photographer SL Santha Kumar and Hindustan Times' Arijit Sen were attacked. The very next day the MRA police arrested Mahendra Gurav and Ganesh Shinde.
On Monday, all the photographers were discharged from St George's Hospital. After the police detained four guards, Kamble was called in for identifying the accused. He identified three of them, which led to their arrest.
Read Story: mid-day's Atul Kamble gives a first-person account of his ordeal
"Today, the identification parade was carried out. Mr Kamble identified three of the four detained and we arrested them," said Sukhlaal Varpe, senior inspector.
The police also took Kamble for spot panchnama.
Rahul Nanda, global chairman Topsgrup, said, "For the last 46 years, Topsgrup has worked closely and professionally with the media and journalists who cover all events in India.
We can never support violence or such unprofessional behaviour by our employees. This brutal act is by the four individuals; Topsgrup has nothing to do with it."
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