A 27-year-old man has been charged with assaulting a prominent Calgary radio host, who alleges he was targeted because of the station’s news reporting.
Police say they received a call on Sept. 29 about an assault at the Rio Banquet hall in northeast Calgary.
They say a man was leaving the hall when he was approached by two men who assaulted him after a verbal altercation.
Rishi Nagar, a longtime radio host and news director for RED FM Calgary, has identified himself as the victim.
A journalist for decades, Nagar says he has long reported on issues facing the South Asian community, including violence and extortion. He believes the attack stems from his reporting on these topics.
While speaking to media last week with bandages over one eye, he alleged the attack was a brazen attempt to intimidate and prevent a free press from doing its job.