Act against guilty in attack on IBN offices: Editors Guild

The Editors' Guild of India today condemned the attack on the IBN-Lokmat offices in Mumbai and Pune by Shiv Sena activists, demanding that the government should immediately identify those behind the violence and take action against them.

"The Guild unanimously states (that) such violence is unacceptable and strongly condemns not only such acts but also the mindset behind this," Guild president Rajdeep Sardesai and secretary general KS Sachidananda Murthy said in a statement.

Dozens of Shiv Sainiks armed with iron rods and clubs descended on the offices of IBN-Lokmat in Mumbai and Pune yesterday and assaulted staff members, including journalists, for carrying reports that allegedly showed Sena leader Bal Thackeray in a bad light.

The Guild demanded that the government should immediately identify all those who instructed the mob to attack and ensure they are arrested and brought to justice.

"The attacks on two offices cannot just be dismissed as an act of mere vandalism," it said.