NEW DELHI: News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has condemned the attack on journalists and media persons who were covering the Ahmedabad bandh on 18 July. The bandh was called following the mysterious death of two boys residing in the ashram of religious guru Asaram Bapu.

NBA says, "With more than 15 journalists being seriously injured, channels like Aajtak, Times Now and TV 18’s OB vans and television equipments were damaged completely".

NBA President and Aajtak CEO G Krishnan said that journalists and media workers provide a service that is essential for any democratic society and keep the public informed. There can be no acceptable reason for attacking the men and women who help make possible the fundamental right of freedom of expression. And preventing journalists from performing their duties are violations of the freedoms enshrined in and guaranteed by the Constitution.

Krishnan has further urged the Chief Minister and Home Minister of Gujarat to restore law and order to ensure that journalists are allowed to perform their duties in a free and fearless manner. He hoped that the state administration would take action to book the culprits and would display that no individual or individuals are beyond the law of the land.

The supporters of spiritual guru Asaram Bapu assaulted media persons at a press conference called by Asaram Bapu's ashram. What triggered the attack were the unreciprocated questions over the deaths of two boys Dipesh Praful Vaghela (10), and his cousin Abhishek Shantilal Vaghela (11), whose bodies were found in the riverbed near the spiritual guru’s ashram on 6 July.

The ashram has been facing protests since then. In addition, several organisations had called for shutdown in Ahmedabad on 18 July to protest against the flawed investigation.