Bengaluru, 28 March

A female journalist from Press Trust of India (PTI) was verbally abused and physical assault by news agency ANI reporter on Thursday. The altercation, captured on camera and shared from PTI's official handle shows the woman reporter, and ANI reporter Raghavendra engaged in a heated argument after which he slapped her multiple times before being restrained by bystanders.

The incident occurred during a press conference held by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar in Bengaluru on Thursday.

PTI condemned the "abominable behaviour" of the ANI reporter. An FIR is being filed, and PTI intends to lodge a complaint with the National  Commission for Women.

National Commission for Women member Khusbhu Sundar condemned the physical and verbal abuse by the ANI reporter and demanded immediate action against him by his employer.

Meanwhile, ANI editor Naveen Kapoor said in a post on X that the reporter has been suspended while the investigations are going on.