Kottayam, June 25 (IANS) Activists of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-backed Students Federation of India (SFI) Monday assaulted journalists here in Kerala and attacked the office of newspaper Malayalam Manorama. The SFI activists were returning from a protest march when they had a skirmish with a group of Congress-backed Kerala Students Union (KSU) activists in front of Baselious College here.

The reporters from the print and TV wings of Malayalam Manorma reached the spot to cover the incident. On seeing the media persons, the SFI activists allegedly assaulted them.

Pradeep Joseph, a reporter of the TV channel, was brutally assaulted, so were three reporters of the newspaper.

Later, the SFI activists stoned the office of the newspaper, locaterd near the Baselious College.

Reporters allege that they were beaten up by the SFI activists and the police stood watching without taking any action.

State Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has condemned the incident and said action would taken against those involved in the attack.