With two fresh arrests yesterday MRA Marg police has now arrested all 7 accused, but all have secured bail; cops say chargesheet to be filed soon
Displaying placards, wearing hard hats and displaying black ribbons, media men staged their protest. Pic/Shadab Khan
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Even as pressure is mounting in the photojournalists attack case — in which five accused from the Topsgrup security agency had already been arrested — the MRA Marg police yesterday arrested two more guards.
Media persons on Tuesday participated in a silent protest march from Hutatma Chowk to Bombay House to register protest against the attack on three photojournalists. Pics/Nimesh Dave
The police arrested Swapnil Chaskar and Pravin Salunkhe after the three victims, mid-day’s Atul Kamble, HT’s Arijit Sen and Times of India’s SL Shanth Kumar, identified them. With that, all seven accused have been arrested, but all of them have managed to secure bail against a surety of Rs 10,000.
Meanwhile, journalists from across media houses on Tuesday staged a silent march from Hutatma Chowk to Bombay House to register their protest against the treatment meted out to its members by the security personnel of Tata Sons’ and demanding the termination of Tops security from Tata’s roster. On Friday, three photojournalists were brutally attacked by guards from Tops security. The MRA police had registered a case against seven guards.
“On Monday, during identification, we showed photographs of suspects to the victims. From them, Chaskar and Salunkhe were identified, and we arrested them today (Tuesday),” said Sukhlaal Varpe, senior inspector of MRA Police station. Both were produced in Ballard Pier court, which remanded them to judicial custody till November 11, the police said. Both then moved bail application, which was sanctioned by the court.
Chargesheet soon
On Tuesday, three more eyewitness in the incident stepped forward, with one of them also producing a video recording of the event, said the police.
“We have registered their statement and it will strengthen our case,” an officer said, adding, “Now, we have enough evidence and statements against accused, so we will submit the chargesheet soon.”
The other side
Following the media protest, Niraj Bijlani, CEO, Topsgrup India stated, “This violent act that was committed by the four men, is an individual act and Topsgrup has nothing to do with it. The said men have been terminated. Now demanding that Tatas terminate the jobs of hundreds of hard working Tops workers who have done nothing wrong, and are totally innocent, is uncalled for.”
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