A journalist from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh was beaten on camera by a senior official, as he was covering a story around the local body elections.

In a 30-second video, Krishna Tiwari, who had gone to report from a polling centre in the Bangarmau area of the district, is seen being thrashed by one of the senior UP officials.

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He alleged that Chief Development Officer (CDO) Divyanshu Patel and some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers attacked him while he was covering the story.

Tiwari said despite knowing that he was a journalist on the job the official continued to beat him, and he was reportedly joined by a local BJP leader and workers.

Unnao District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar, according to news agency ANI, said, “We held talks with media persons. CDO has also apologised. I assure you that a fair investigation will be done in the matter.”

The video of the incident has gone viral and was shared by a few senior journalists as well.

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The Committee Against Assault on Journalists (CAAJ), a handle that claims to defend the rights of journalists on duty, also tweeted about the incident, registering their protest against the “high-handedness” of the police.

BJP state spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi, according to the Indian Express report, said,  “A fair investigation will be done. And whoever is found guilty will face action as per law. No one has the right to take the law into their hands and it doesn’t matter if they belong to the ruling party.”

Violence was reported from at least 17 districts of Uttar Pradesh during elections for panchayat block chiefs on Saturday, with Etawah, Hathras seeing stone-pelting and firing at Barhpura block.