Nirmala case: Journos allege attack by cops

The incident occurred while Nirmala Devi, former assistant professor of a private college in Aruppukottai, an accused in the audio tape leak case, was returning from the court hall after attending a hearing in the case.

A group of journalists approached Nirmala Devi, who was being taken back to prison amid tight security, in an attempt to interview her on the court premises when the police personnel deputed on the premises prevented them from doing so. In the ruckus, Manikandan, a journalist of a private television channel was alleged to have been pushed down by the police personnel.

Subsequently, fellow journalists staged an agitation near the Kamarajar statue at Ramakrishnapuram, Srivilliputhur and raised slogans condemning the police’s alleged attack, seeking immediate action against them.

The Virudhunagar Superintendent of Police, M Rajarajan, denied this and said the personnel only helped the journalist, who had accidentally fallen from the stairs while video graphing Devi at the court.