Shibu Baby John, Revolutionary Socialist Party (B) legislator, was arrested in Kerala on charges of masterminding an attack on journalists.
 
John, a first time legislator and son of veteran former politician Baby John, was taken into custody midnight Saturday from the residence of former Kerala chief secretary S. Padmakumar here.

John's party supporters Saturday attacked five journalists of the visual media who were reporting on the beating up of a supporter of state Labour Minister Babu Divakaran, an estranged colleague.

The journalists have been admitted to the General Hospital here.

John's arrest followed a four-hour sit-in by 150 journalists, which was called off after police released seven journalists they had taken into custody during a protest march.
 
John complained of chest pain after his arrest and was admitted to a private hospital.
 
Reports indicate that the police are likely to take into custody the state secretary of RSP (B) A.V. Thamarakshan, who is also alleged to be behind the attack on media persons.

Following differences of opinion between Thamarakshan and Babu Divakaran, the RSP (B) has now split with John and Divakaran in opposite camps.

--Indo-Asian News Service