The Kerala Police registered a case against Venu Balakrishnan, Deputy Editor and Anchor of Mathrubhumi News television channel for allegedly promoting communal enmity during a prime-time news debate. The case was registered based on two complaints, one of which was filed by a local leader of the Democratic Youth Federation of India, the youth wing of Communist Party of India (Marxist). According to a report on Scroll, Balakrishnan referred to the alleged torture of a Muslim youth named Usman by Police and the ruckus in the State Assembly following Police atrocities.

In a recent statement, Editors Guild of India has said that it considers the contemplated Police action against Balakrishnan based on the FIR filed by Kollam police, to be reprehensible and an attack on the freedom of the press. The body further highlighted that the state must take note of the incident and ensure that the Police is restrained from taking any action that undermines the freedom of the press and the justice delivery system.

Read the statement issued by the Editors Guild of India:

The News Minute quoted Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala as saying. “What is most surprising is that police decided to act based on a complaint from a worker of the CPI(M)’s youth wing.”

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 09, 2018 11:37 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).