Mob attacks TV3 crew

A TV3 crew on routine rounds in the city last night was attacked by a mob of some 20 Africans and locals outside a Taman Connaught pub. Reporter Puspavathy Ramaloo, 32, said she and two cameramen stopped their car not far from the pub about 11 last night. One of the cameramen, who did not want his name used, walked towards the pub after spotting a large group gathered outside.

There, he found a few liquor and beer bottles on the floor outside the pub and began to film the scene. However, the group of Africans, a number of local Indians and a local woman, accused him of filming them drinking and a row started.

The group then went after the cameraman, who ran towards the car. They caught up with him and three of them beat him up. Puspavathy tried to reason with the crowd, by they ignored her.

The three continued to hit the cameraman, one of them using a bottle. They also seized his camera.

Puspavathy in the meantime called on the other cameraman to film the incident. She then told the three attackers to cease and return the camera, or she’ll call the police. She showed them her media tag, after which the three fled, with the camera, while the rest went back to the pub.

The first cameraman suffered injuries to both his hands and bruises on his head and neck, where he had been hit with the bottle.

Meanwhile, the woman in the crowd, who had been aggressive and abusive, spotted the second cameraman filming them, came back with the rest of the mob and they attacked him, injuring him in the hands and abdomen.

They too seized his camera and media tag and left.

The TV3 crew members made their preliminary report at the Taman Maluri police beat base.