IBN attack suspect untraced

HARSH PUNISHMENT: The 17 people held in Mumbai have been charged with attempt to murder, rioting and trespass.

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Mumbai: A campaign has been launched by IBN Network to press for the freedom of expression in this country and to ensure that media doesn't become a soft target for political goons, a day after our offices were attacked for free and fair reporting.

Maharashtra Chief Minister, Ashok Chavan has promised strict action but the ringleaders of this shameful attack still remain unpunished.

Shiv Sainiks vandalised the IBN Lokmat offices in Mumbai and Pune on Friday. The police say that Sunil Raut - brother of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and Editor of the Sena mouthpiece, Saamna - is the mastermind of the attack, but that he has yet to be located and arrested.

The Chief Minister, meanwhile, renewed his promise to investigate the attack after Mumbai's top journalists met him on Saturday.

"I assure the electronic media, the print media and all the people of Maharashtra that we will not tolerate this sort of political activity by any one or by any political party," said Ashok Chavan.

Chavan also said he will initiate the passing a harsher law to tackle attacks on journalists after IBN Network Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai and IBN Lokmat Editor-in-Chief, Nikhil Wagle, demanded that journalists be protected.

"We don't want that action be taken against only those who have attacked the offices. We want that the masterminds of this attack be arrested and punished," said Rajdeep Sardesai.

"We have faith in the Maharashtra government now that they have promised speedy and strict action," added Nikhil Wagle.

The 17 people arrested in Mumbai on Friday have been charged with attempt to murder, rioting and trespass, but there is no word of what action the police is taking to get to Sunil Raut. And even though the Chief Minister of Maharashtra has assured security to the IBN Network offices and promised a change in the law to punish the attackers in the future, everyone is waiting to see whether the real conspirators behind the attacks will be arrested and punished.