G. Gopinath

The famously freewheeling press in the world’s biggest democracy operated largely without interference from the central government but nevertheless faced significant challenges, from the threat of violent assault to legal harassment. The dangers confronting journalists varied tremendously across regions, with those working in conflict areas or outside the major urban centers at greatest risk. With no national organization systematically tracking press freedom violations, cases involving journalists working for small media outlets rarely drew wide attention.

New York, May 11, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists mourns the deaths of three employees of the Tamil-language daily Dinakaran who were killed in an attack on the newspaper’s offices in the eastern Indian state of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.

“We are horrified by the attack on Dinakaran newspaper and mourn these three deaths,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. “Those responsible must be brought to justice.”

TThree employees of the Tamil-language daily Dinakaran were killed in an attack on the newspaper's offices in the eastern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The victims were identified as computer engineers M. Vinod Kumar and G. Gopinath and security guard K. Muthuranalingam, according to the news Web site New Kerala.

The employees died of asphyxiation after demonstrators threw firebombs into offices housing Dinakaran, Sun TV, and other media outlets, according to The Associated Press. The protesters were angry with an opinion poll published by Dinakaran that indicated public support for M.K. Stalin's bid for election as chief minister of Tamil Nadu, a post then held by Stalin's father, M. Karunanidhi. Stalin's chief political rival was his elder brother, M.K. Azhagiri.

Three employees of the Tamil-language daily Dinakaran were killed in an attack on the newspaper's offices in the eastern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The victims were identified as computer engineers M. Vinod Kumar and G. Gopinath and security guard K. Muthuranalingam, according to the news Web site New Kerala.

The employees died of asphyxiation after demonstrators threw firebombs into offices housing Dinakaran, Sun TV, and other media outlets, according to The Associated Press. The protesters were angry with an opinion poll published by Dinakaran that indicated public support for M.K. Stalin's bid for election as chief minister of Tamil Nadu, a post then held by Stalin's father, M. Karunanidhi. Stalin's chief political rival was his elder brother, M.K. Azhagiri.

Three employees of the Tamil-language daily Dinakaran were killed in an attack on the newspaper's offices in the eastern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The victims were identified as computer engineers M. Vinod Kumar and G. Gopinath and security guard K. Muthuranalingam, according to the news Web site New Kerala.