From covering current issues, to becoming the news, it would seem that the media has come full circle. On Thursday, videos from Mumbai showed a group of journalists locked in a brawl of sorts near the Gateway of India. With designer Simone Khambatta at the Narcotics Bureau's south Mumbai office on Thursday afternoon, journalists had gathered en masse to cover the same. But for reasons that remain unknown, this eventually led to a scuffle. Videos showed reporters pushing and gesticulating at each other as they verbalise their ire. A few police officials can also be seen intervening.
Journalist Pradeep Bhandari whose Twitter bio calls him the CEO and Founder of Jan Ki Baat as well as a consulting editor with Republic, took to Twitter sharing a video and laying the blame with "NDTV and ABP goons".
"Know what is the cost of telling the truth in Maharashtra? As the well-known faces of the cartel are getting exposed, their anger continues to grow. When the police did not work, today NDTV and ABP goons sent journalists to hand me over. But I am not one of those who will break," he wrote in the caption.
Following the fracas, many have taken to Twitter to weigh in on the incident. And while some have expressed their ire at the Maharashtra government or the channels that had allegedly attacked him, others took it upon themselves to vocalise their disbelief.
"Is it ok now to beat journalists up in Maharashtra? How is physical assault acceptable by fellow journalists? I am shocked and horrified," commented journalist Nupur Sharma.
"Republic camera man was busy shooting the action instead of stopping the violence," jibed comedian Kunal Kamra.
"I strongly condemn attack on @pradip103 Ji. You may not agree with a journalist or his style of reporting. But such actions are new low in Journalism. Stay Strong and take care Pradip Ji," tweeted BJP leader Y Satya Kumar.
Take a look at some of the comments:
