Metro TV journalist assaulted

MEDAN, North Sumatra: A group of people assaulted a Metro TV reporter on Saturday outside a zoo, leaving him slightly injured and his camera broken.

The assault occurred when Metro TV reporter Usrizal Pulungan was about to cover a protest held by students and activists during the inauguration of Medan Zoo in Medan Tuntungan district on Saturday morning.

According to Usrizal, he suffered injuries to his hands and other parts of his body after the group hit and kicked him repeatedly. One among the group snatched his camera and threw it down forcefully, badly damaging it, he said.

Earlier, the reporter was warned by the same people not to cover the event.

The students and activists were protesting the poor handling of the zoo, which moved to a new location in Medan Tuntungan district a week ago. The poor handling was said to have caused the death of several animals, including a Sumatran tiger. -- JP