Statesman team

NANDIGRAM, Nov. 20 : A group of young men tried to intimidate and threaten The Statesman team while it was in Ranichak. “Don’t take pictures here and don’t talk to the people. If you want to know something, ask our leaders,” one of them said. When a torn CPI-M flag detatched itself from a tree while a member of the team was passing by, another said: “It’s a matter of great concern and it seems you pulled it off deliberately.”The activists shadowed us and interrupted every time the villagers said something unfavourable. SNS

Statesman picketing condemned

The Statesman

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?date=2005-10-15&usrsess=1&clid=1&id=120996

KOLKATA, Oct. 14. — Circulation heads of leading Kolkata-based newspapers held an emergency meeting in the city today, unanimously condemning Thursday’s blockade of Statesman House. The blockade was organised by activists of the Centre for Indian Trade Unions to prevent copies of The Statesman and the Dainik Statesman from leaving the building.
The officials demanded immediate and strict action against those officers of the Kolkata Police, who, in spite of having been informed in writing on 11 October, refused to intervene and allowed Citu activists to picket Statesman House, stop vehicles carrying the newspapers and to snatch copies from the company’s representatives at Gariahat.
The meeting was attended by representatives of The Statesman, Dainik Statesman, Anandabazar Patrika, The Telegraph, The Indian Express, Business Standard, Bartaman, Aajkaal, Pratidin, Rajasthan Patrika, Hindustan Times, The Times of India, Prabhat Khabar, Sanmarg and Dainik Jagran.
It will be recalled that, on Thursday morning, vehicles carrying copies of The Statesman and the Dainik Statesman were stopped and asked to return by Citu activists present at either gate of Statesman House. After repeated requests, two constables from Bowbazar police station were sent, but they made no effort to facilitate passage of vehicles carrying the supplies. — SNS