Prashanth Bhushan Gets Beaten Over Kashmir Remark

Three youngmen, reportedly belonging to Shri Ram Sena and Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena, beat up Supreme Court lawyer and Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan at his chamber on Wednesday, 12 October 2011.

Prashanth Bhushan was speaking to a TV channel when the attack took place around 3.50 pm. The entire incident was was caught on video by the channel. The footage shows Bhushan's interview being cut short by a hard slap on his face. He was then dragged out of his chair, kicked while lying on the ground and punched repeatedly. The attackers, members of Shri Ram Sena and Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena, carried pamphlets which stated 'Kashmir hamara hai aur hamara hi rahega'. Two of them managed to flee while one was caught by Bhushan's assistants and lawyers, and beaten up.

The attack footage that appeared on number of news channels immediately, created a stir in political circles, drawing condemnation from home minister P Chidambaram, the Congress, BJP and Left parties. As Prashanth Bhushan regained composure, he said it appeared that the youths targeted him for his stand on J&K. "They were saying that I have made some comments on Kashmir to which they were taking objection. I had said that a plebiscite should be held in Kashmir," he said. After the attack, Bhushan was taken to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital where doctors said that he had received minor injuries on his head and leg.