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'Nakkeeran' reporter arrested, beaten up

S Bhaskar, the Kumbakonam-based reporter of Tamil weekly Nakkeeran, was arrested, stripped and beaten up in a police station in Madras last night for writing critical reports about Local Administration Minister Ko Si Mani, according to the weekly's editor R R Gopal.

Condemning the arrest, Gopal, in a statement, charged the state government with suppressing press freedom by using the police force.

Soon after his arrest at 1.30 am last night, Bhaskar was taken to the police station, stripped and beaten up. Cases were foisted on him and he was handcuffed and taken to a court. He was later lodged in jail, Gopal alleged.

The editor said he had sent telegrams to Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, Union Home Minister L K Advani, state Governor Justice Fathima Beevi, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, Press Council of India and top officials seeking their intervention.

UNI

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