Media office attacked in TN; Azhagiri's supporters go on rampage

May 09: Now you cannot go for independent surveys that seem to be the punch line of the recent vandalisation of Tamil daily office killing two of its employees, which dared to publish a survey showing over whelming support for M K Stalin over his elder brother M K Azhagiri as promising political heir of their father and chief minister of Tamil Nadu, M Karunanidhi.

Mob, who claimed to be the supporters of DMK leader M K Azahagri, today set fire to the office of �??Dinakaran�??, owned by Sun TV network, in Madurai and set the office on fire after indulging in protests resenting a survey published by the newspaper on the possible political heir of chief minister.

In its survey entitled �??what people thinks�?? published in the daily today revealed that 70 per cent Tamils are in favour of Stalin and just 2 per cent favour Azhagiri. Latter controls the southern districts of Tamil Nadu and people want him to be the apparent heir to the legacy of the Karunanidhi.

Protesting mob set daily�??s office situated near the highest judicial seat, High court, on fire, which resulted in the death of two of its employees. Police has cordoned off the fire and fire tenders have been brought to check the fire. According to police, the supporters burnt copies of the daily at several places in Madurai and in Cumbum, Theni, Kamuthi, Bodinayakanur, Gudalur, Dindigul, Tirunelveli, Virudhunagar and Tuticorin.

From time to time the political supporters in south India had showed inkling towards the personality cult and in this case same is happening.

Now media fraternity in Tamil Nadu has shown strong resentment regarding the vandalisation of the media office. �??I am going to raise the issue and it is an attack on the freedom of media,�?� said chief editor of Dinakaran while talking to a TV television. Media persons working in and from the state have termed it as an attack on the freedom of press.

What will happen in near future and how it is going to affect the over all freedom of press in the state and throughout the country is yet to be seen? One thing is clear, things won�??t be the same.