A local TV reporter had to be hospitalised on Wednesday after being allegedly thrashed by a group of Ranchi University staff at the Examination Department of the university. Chandan Dev Bhattacharya, who is said to have sustained severe injuries on his head and nose, was rushed to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) after he reportedly lost excessive blood and started vomiting.

Later in the day, police detained two persons in connection with the attack. More detentions are likely in the course of investigation, sources said.

Eyewitnesses said that Bhattacharya and two other journalists had gone to the University to report about the alleged anomalies in the functioning of the Examination Department. While he was capturing the locked door of the Examination Department on his camera, few staff objected. This reportedly led to a scuffle and subsequent thrashing of the journalists.

“Around eight to 10 people, who claimed to be staff of the department, asked us to stop recording videos. When we refused to oblige, they attacked us,” said Sandeep Kumar, one of the three journalists thrashed in the incident.

This is not the first incident of attack on journalists in the State Capital. Several incidents of journalists falling prey to the wrath of government doctors and teachers have been reported in Ranchi in the recent years.

The media fraternity gathered at Kotwali Police Station in solidarity with Bhattacharya and demanded actions against the perpetrators.

Later in the day, Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police Anish Gupta and other senior officials of Ranchi police met Bhattacharya and lodged a first information report against the staff involved in the attack.

“We have already detained two persons involved in the attack. More detentions will happen,” Gupta said.