The ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest in Kolkata has come under scrutiny after a video showing a journalist being chased and assaulted by a protester went viral on social media. The incident, which has sparked fresh debate over the safety of journalists covering protests, shows a man running towards a reporter, abusing him and hitting him while shouting slogans.
According to posts circulating online, the guy seen in the video has been identified by social media users as Laraib Sheikh, who runs an Instagram account under the username “mr_laraib.04” and has around 10,000 followers. The guy shared the video on his Instagram account on Friday, 24th July.
Meet Laraib Sheikh, a content creator on Instagram with approx 10k followers, runs and hits a journalist.
— The Bong Head (@TheBongHead) July 25, 2026
This happened in Kolkata CJP protest, where mob was attacking the journalist.
Lives in Kolkata, but zero fear of such behaviour on camera. pic.twitter.com/ceIupPN0iy
In the viral clip, the man is seen chasing the journalist, using abusive language and shouting, “Godi Media pakda gaya”, before appearing to strike the reporter. The video has been widely shared across social media, with many users condemning the incident and raising concerns about the treatment of journalists covering the protest.
The incident comes amid continuing cases of hostility towards media personnel during CJP protests in different parts of the country. Over the past few days, several journalists have reported being heckled, threatened or assaulted while covering demonstrations. These incidents have led to renewed discussions about whether reporters are able to carry out their professional duties safely while reporting from protest sites.
The latest viral video from Kolkata has further intensified that debate. Many social media users have questioned the conduct of those seen targeting journalists and have called for appropriate action against anyone found responsible for assaulting media personnel.
