Hemendra Sharma, a reporter with Sahara Samay, a Delhi-based news channel,
was doing a story about how polluting industrial units were functioning
despite the Supreme Court ban.

"I got information that though factories in Bawana (in northwest Delhi) were
locked from outside, owners have quietly sneaked in their workers into the
compound without any one getting any wiser about the goings-on inside the
premises," Sharma told IANS.

He said they had taken some shots of the factories Monday night when some
20-odd factory owners and their workers gathered around them.

He said: "They were carrying rods, sticks and swords and were ready to
attack us. They blocked our way by parking trucks in front of our vehicle
too. We ran for our lives. The crowd completely smashed our car. One of our
men received some minor injuries."

"We have registered a complaint with the police," he added.

In 2000, the Supreme Court had ordered the Delhi government to seal all
polluting units in the city. Authorities claimed they have sealed the
factories following the order.

--Indo-Asian News Service