# Chennai journalists fasted after alleged police attacks in 2001 2026-08-15T06:51:21+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet On August 15, 2001, scores of Chennai journalists observed a day-long fast near the State Guest House, protesting alleged police attacks on reporters and photographers covering a DMK rally. The journalists said police assaulted about 15 members of the media outside the Director General of Police’s office on August 12. Several sustained bleeding injuries, while camera equipment was damaged. The police denied attacking journalists to stop their coverage. Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa said reporters had been caught between the police and unruly protesters, but journalists rejected the explanation. The Chennai Press Club, Madras Union of Journalists and Madras Reporters Guild sought a CBI inquiry. Nine members of the Journalists Action Group later approached the Madras High Court, seeking an inquiry and compensation for injured journalists and damaged equipment. The journalists also opposed the Justice Bhaktavatsalam Commission, saying it could not punish those responsible. The Hindu Archives revisited the episode. ## Coverage - thehindu.com Tags: Chennai, J Jayalalithaa, M Karunanidhi, Madras High Court, Tamil Nadu Police Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/chennai-journalists-fasted-after-alleged-police-attacks-in-2001/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/chennai-journalists-fasted-after-alleged-police-attacks-in-2001/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.