New Delhi, February 26, 2020 : The National Union of Journalists (India) and Delhi Journalists Association strongly condemn the incidents of several attacks on media persons covering communal violence rocking in North-East Delhi since Sunday.
According to the information, a journalist working with JK 24X7 news received a bullet injury and two reporters from NDTV were beaten and punched by attackers. Akash sustained a bullet injury while covering the communal clashes in Maujpur locality and is in hospital where his condition is serious. NDTV journalist Arvind Gunasekar was hit by attackers while he was at one of the spots in northeast Delhi and lost a teeth. His fellow reporter, Saurabh, who tried to shield him, was also punched. A woman journalist has also sustained injuries. In social media many journalists shared tales of how they were heckled and some alleged they were questioned about their religious identity.
NUJ(I) President Prajnananda Chauduri and Secretary General Sheo Kumar Agarwal showed serious concern and said, ‘we request to Government to probe into incidents of attacks on media persons and punish the attackers and guilty police officers involve in assaulting them.’
‘These incidents re-establishes the justification of promulgation of enactment of Journalists Protection Act as demanded by NUJ(I)’s.’ The statement added.
The DJA President Rakesh Thapliyal and General Secretary K P Malik said in a statement that ‘DJA strongly Condemns and criticize these barbaric acts in the capital of the country and demand to the central government to ensure full security for media persons performing their duties and nab the culprits at the earliest.’ ‘Cameras of Media persons were snatched and broken. It was done with the sole purpose of suppressing the truth. Reporters had a tough time covering the violence with many of them threatened and heckled.’
According to the statement, ‘NUJ (India) and DJA will soon hold mettings to discuss the current situation and would give a memorandam to Union Home Minister for ensuring the safety of media persons. The statement added.
