Strongly condemn police attack on media persons in Tirupathi. Violence as a means of curtailing media freedom should be dealt with severely.

Sharply condemning the brutal police assault on journalists and camera crew members in Tirupati, DMK Treasurer M. K. Stalin demanded that authorities initiate severe punitive action against the police personnel responsible for the violence. Stalin emphasized that journalists perform an indispensable democratic duty by reporting news events objectively and bringing ground realities to public knowledge. When law enforcement personnel resort to physical brutality to intimidate reporters, destroy recording equipment, and prevent news coverage, it constitutes a direct, unacceptable assault on the constitutional freedom of the press. He stressed that violence as a weapon to suppress media scrutiny is the hallmark of an authoritarian mindset that has no place in a constitutional democracy. The DMK, with its deep-seated commitment to free expression and civil liberties, stands in resolute solidarity with working journalists who face hazardous occupational conditions to uphold the public's right to information. Stalin urged the Andhra Pradesh government to conduct an immediate inquiry, suspend the errant police officials, and provide adequate medical treatment and compensation to the injured journalists. He called upon all state administrations to ensure that media personnel can carry out their professional reporting duties safely and without fear.