Facing the wrath of the media for his inaction throughout the day, chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda has ordered a judicial probe into incidents of attack on journalists and police at the city civil court complex.

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A retired judge would conduct the probe and the government would name the judge within three days, in consultation with chief justice of Karnataka high court. The terms of reference for the probe would be finalised within a week.

The chief minister made the announcement after chairing a meeting attended by home minister R Ashoka, chief secretary SV Ranganath, senior police and home ministry officials.

He rejected media representatives’ demand that a retired senior police official conduct the probe. Gowda assured stringent and impartial action against those who had perpetrated acts of assault and hooliganism, as prima facie evidence was available as to what happened at the city civil court complex. TV footage will be used to bring the culprits to book, he said.

However, he declined to issue any immediate orders for arrest of the assaulters, stating that his immediate priority would be to restore normalcy. Condemning the violence, the chief minister said the state government would foot the medical bill of all those injured in the violence.

The government would also assess the damage caused to public and private properties and consider paying compensation.

Gowda stated that guidelines would be evolved in consultation with the high court registrar to enable functioning of mediapersons on court premises and ensure their safety. Law and parliamentary Affairs minister S Suresh Kumar would hold talks with the registrar, said Gowda.