Coimbatore: A cameraman of a leading TV channel was allegedly assaulted and his camera smashed by security staff of a multi-speciality hospital near the city airport, prompting a large number of media persons to stage a protest there, seeking immediate arrest of the culprits.
Police said that Krishna, cameraman of SUN TV, had gone to the hospital to take sound bytes of a patient on a request from his relatives about problems he was allegedly facing over treatment in the last few months.
As the relatives were speaking to Krishna, some security staff arrived at the spot, reportedly smashed his camera and mike and assaulted him, leaving him with bleeding injuries on his left ear.
Krishna has been admitted to the Government Hospital, police said.
As the news spread, over 70 media persons rushed to the hospital,sought immediate action and filed a police complaint.
Some media persons alleged that despite filing an FIR, police had delayed arresting the culprits and asked those assembled in front of the hospital to disperse.
Police said the media persons wanted management officials to apologise for the assault as a senior official had reportedly instigated the security staff to attack Krishna.
The media persons continued their protest, along with relatives of the patient, as they felt that the security staff would be let out on bail after their arrest, police said.