Kolkata, November 18: With a West Bengal government circular coming into effect from today on punctuality, mediapersons covering state secretariat — Writers’ Buildings — were allegedly abused by employees and told that the departments were off limits.
Mediapersons were allegedly manhandled, threatened, had invectives hurled at them and were driven out of the departments of agriculture, animal resources and Information and Culture.
Finance minister Asim Dasgupta met with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and discussed the issue, following which he told mediapersons that they were not to venture into departments which disturbed work, while photographs could be taken only from corridors.
Dasgupta said Director of Information Niloy Ghosh would discuss the matter with mediapersons and sort out details on restrictions.
Meanwhile, aggrieved mediapersons submitted a memorandum to Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen, who assured to look into the matter, but asked them to follow guidelines announced by the finance minister.
–Agencies