National

Calgary police investigating weekend assault of prominent radio host

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 01 Oct, 2024 03:22 PM

Calgary police say they're investigating the assault of a prominent local radio host over the weekend.

Police say they received a report of an assault near a banquet hall on Sunday afternoon in the city's Horizon neighbourhood.

When officers arrived, they located a man with injuries consistent with an assault.

No arrests have been made.

Rishi Nagar, a longtime radio host and news director for RED FM Calgary, identified himself as the victim of the assault.

Nagar says he was assaulted by two men who were upset with recent reporting his outlet did related to an incident at the Dashmesh Culture Centre in Calgary last week.

VIDEO: ‘I will not be silenced’: RedFM host responds after alleged weekend assault | LiveWire Calgary https://t.co/8djJbGNOjk
— Rishi Kumar Nagar🍁 (@RishiKNagar) October 1, 2024

Shocked to hear of the attack on community leader and journalist @RishiKNagar. This kind of violence is never acceptable and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.

Wishing Rishi a speedy recovery and a quick return to the air where he can continue his important…
— Naheed Nenshi (@nenshi) October 1, 2024

Watching @RishiKNagar press conference. He has a big bandage over his left eye. He was greatly hurt by the attack, but was heartened by the public's support. And maintains that he will not be silenced. He will continue to report on extortion and criminal activities.
— Duane Bratt (@DuaneBratt) October 1, 2024

In that incident, according to police, two men were arrested in the parking lot of the centre on Sept. 24 after police received a report of a man with a gun.

On Sept 29th at 3 pm, our Host and News Director @RishiKNagar was attacked by 2 people.

The complaint has been filed with the @CalgaryPolice

Here is his statement after the attack. pic.twitter.com/Vv3fPBSHzm
— RED FM™ CALGARY (@REDFMCALGARY) September 30, 2024

Both men are facing four gun-related charges as well as a charge for issuing death threats.

Speaking to media in Calgary on Tuesday, with bandages over one eye, Nagar called his assault a "clear attack on journalism and the free press."

"It was a brazen attempt to intimidate, to silence and to prevent a free press from doing its job," he said.

"These cowardly actions will not deter me or my colleagues from continuing our work.

"They can break my eye, not the resolve."

Photo courtesy of RishiNagar.ca

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Homicide in Agassiz

Police in Agassiz say a man has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of a woman in a case of possible intimate partner violence. Mounties say police were called to a home at the Seabird Island Band in April and found a 33-year-old woman dead at the scene.

Homicide in Agassiz

In message of hope, Singh says challenge ahead is convincing people NDP can win

Jagmeet Singh is delivering a message of hope today in his first speech following the NDP's exit from its supply and confidence deal with the minority Liberals. But the NDP leader acknowledges one of the party's biggest challenges will be persuading Canadians it can actually form government.

In message of hope, Singh says challenge ahead is convincing people NDP can win

BC United MLA Dan Davies runs as Independent, sees himself as possible 'powerbroker'

A third BC United legislator has declared his candidacy as an Independent in the Oct. 19 provincial election. Dan Davies, first elected in 2017 in the Peace River North riding, says if elected this fall he could become a "powerbroker" in a potential minority government situation.

BC United MLA Dan Davies runs as Independent, sees himself as possible 'powerbroker'

Union 'devastated' by B.C. mill closures, says Canfor should lose tenures

The union's local chapter in Prince George says in a statement that about 325 of the 500 workers at the Plateau mill in Vanderhoof and Canfor's Fort St. John operation belong to United Steelworkers. The statement says the union membership was "devastated" to hear Canfor's announcement on Wednesday that the mills would close by the end of this year, removing 670 million board feet of annual production capacity.

Union 'devastated' by B.C. mill closures, says Canfor should lose tenures

B.C. Greens make election pledge for free transit, doubling of bus numbers

B.C. Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau has announced an election policy to make all public transit in the province free. She says the policy, released ahead of the fall provincial vote, would relieve financial strain on families, create more livable communities and reduce carbon emissions.

B.C. Greens make election pledge for free transit, doubling of bus numbers

B.C. residents can still get COVID shots until arrival of updated vaccines: province

British Columbia says its current supply of COVID-19 vaccines will remain available until new formulations are approved, unlike other provinces that say they're following instructions from the Public Health Agency of Canada to remove and destroy existing doses. A spokesman for the provincial health officer says B.C. residents are encouraged to wait for the updated COVID vaccines if possible, but people can still get last season's shots if they need them.