Ahmedabad, Jan 21 (HT): A convict in the 2002 Gujarat riots case was detained by the police on Thursday for allegedly punching and slapping a woman journalist during an interview.
The incident occurred in Ahmedabad the previous day, when journalist Revati Laul went to meet Naroda Patiya massacre convict Suresh Chhara at his residence for an interview. “Fifteen minutes into the interview at his residence in Naroda Patiya, Suresh lurched forward and started punching and slapping me without any provocation. He banged my head against a wall,” alleged Laul.
“I managed to escape with the help of his son and neighbours,” Laul said, adding that she has developed a blood clot in one of her eyes and suffered bruises on her ankle.
Formerly a journalist with NDTV, Laul is writing a book on convicts in the 2002 riots case. She has been residing in Ahmedabad for over a year now.
Laul said she was treated at a government hospital, after which she lodged a complaint of assault against Chhara with at the local police station. The convict was detained for questioning the next day.
The journalist has reportedly been meeting Chhara, his wife and son for a year now, and this visit was part of an ongoing interview she had been conducting for her book.
Chhara is currently out on parole for six months. Last year, his wife had accused him of marital rape and unnatural sex.
As many as 32 people were convicted in the Naroda Patiya case, which concerns the lynching of 97 people. Chhara was convicted of rape and murder.