The reporter of a Kannada news channel was beaten up by public when he tried to conduct a string operation at an ATM kiosk in JP Nagar here on Tuesday.
Police said the reporter, who was wearing a balaclava, followed a woman who was entering the ATM kiosk, while the crew of the news channel sat in a van and recorded the event. The woman, who saw the man standing behind her in the kiosk, was frightened and raised an alarm.
Passersby rushed to her help in no time, caught hold of the reporter, thinking he was a miscreant and beat him up.
Later when they handed him over to the police, the TV crew intervened and disclosed his identity. The police scrutinised his identity card and only after confirmation did they let him off.
The reporter had joined the news organisation just a day before. He did not intend to rob the woman, the police said.
Published 18 November 2014, 20:07 IST