Metro TV journalist assaulted

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