Tamil Nadu BJP chief condemns alleged intimidation of journalist by TVK cadres

Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenthran has condemned the alleged intimidation of a journalist by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam cadres in Dharapuram, Tiruppur district. The incident reportedly occurred after the journalist recorded visuals of TVK party functionaries falling at the feet of N. Anand, the state minister and the party’s general secretary.

Nagenthran described the episode in a social media post on Sunday. According to the BJP leader, the journalist was threatened and had his mobile phone taken away. Nagenthran further alleged that the recordings were forcibly deleted from the device.

He called the incident an attack on press freedom and the “fourth pillar of democracy”, saying it reflected growing intolerance towards the media. The supplied material did not include a response from TVK or the journalist. Nagenthran also criticised the police, alleging that the incident took place in their presence and that officers failed to intervene.

His account was presented as an allegation, and the material did not say whether police had opened an investigation. The incident has drawn attention from a rival political party’s state leadership, with Nagenthran using it to raise concerns about the treatment of journalists at political events. No details were provided about whether the journalist filed a complaint, whether any arrests were made or whether the phone and deleted material were recovered.

Further developments would depend on statements from the TVK cadres, police or the journalist involved.