CBI probe sought to trace missing scribe

Meanwhile, in a separate incident in Coimbatore, some journalists who were covering Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi’s visit here were beaten up by policemen on duty at the airport here today.

Thepressmen were taken to the airport by State Information and Publicity Department officials, who had also arranged for transport. While two vehicles were let inside the airport, the third one was stopped by police men. The police men started abusing the press persons even after the latter revealed their identity. Two of them suddenly started beating up some journalists with lathis. A reporter of a private TV channel, an English daily photographer and two government employees, including an assistant Public Relations Officer, were beaten up.

Infuriated over the police action, the journalists, numbering over 40 `gheraoed’ the Union Industries Minister Murasoli Maran, who was coming to the airport. When told about the incident, Maran said, “You have pens, you can write in your papers.”

However, State Power Minister Arcot Veeraswamy, who was also in the car, got down and pacified the journalists, saying that he would look into the matter.

Commissioner of Police Nanchil Kumaran, who arrived at the sceneimmediately, assured stern action against the policemen and apologised on behalf of the force.

The chief minister also expressed regret when the matter was brought to his notice.