Over a dozen journalists were assaulted by the Kolkata Police on Monday while covering a protest march organised by the Left Front. The incident took place near the Kolkata Press Club.

Footage shot by video journalists showed members of the media being abused and intimidated by the police. The cameras of some media persons were also smashed, reported India Today. At least three journalists are currently in hospital, NDTV reported. Kolkata Police Joint Commissioner Supratim Sarkar said an investigation has been ordered into the matter.

A number of media organisations are planning to protests against the violence at 4 pm on Tuesday in Kolkata.

Opposition parties criticised the Mamata Banerjee administration after the incident. “This would not have been possible without the directions of the chief minister. I saw journalists being beaten up before my eyes. I condemn such an attack,” said Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra. However, the chief minister has not yet commented on the matter.

The incident started when a policeman told a local television channel reporter conducting a phone interview to shut up by a policeman. The mediapersons demanded the name of the police offer to lodge a complaint. However, he was whisked away by other security personnel. Members of the media then blocked Mayo Road in retaliation, and the police began to baton-charge them, reported NDTV.

On Monday, there was violence (pictured above) during protests against several issues including the alleged corruption in the Mamata Banerjee-led government among other issues. The All India Kisan Sabha – the Communist Party of India’s (Marxist) farmers’ wing – and other Left factions had marched to the State Secretariat on Monday as part of the protests. The police had used tear-gas shells, water cannons against the agitators to break up the rally. Around 170 people, including 69 police personnel, were injured, reported The Hindu.