Broadcast Editors’ Association (BEA) condemns the murder of journalist Shantanu Bhowmik in the state of Tripura, while covering an agitation. It is very unfortunate that a journalist lost his life while discharging his duty. Such attacks, just days after a senior journalist Gauri Lankesh was killed in Bangalore, prove that disruptive forces are out to curb the freedom of press.
BEA demands the state Government to take prompt action and bring the guilty to book. We also demand that both state and central Governments should take appropriate steps to safeguard the life of media professional across the country. Our thoughts and prayers are with Shantanu’s family, friends and colleagues.
Supriya Prasad
President
Ajit Anjum
General Secretary
Dimapur Press Club is shocked at the brutal murder of young television scribe in Tripura, Shantanu Bhowmik, 29, who was associated with a local news channel “DinRaat”. The young scribe was murdered when he went to cover a clash between two parties namely Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) and Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s tribal wing Tripura Rajaer Upajati Ganamukti Parishad (TRUGP) at Mandai in west Tripura on September 20.
The DPC condemns such acts of brutality perpetrated on a person who was on his duty, covering an event. Attack on journalists in the country has increased in the recent days, but no steps have been taken by the Governments across the country to protect the members of the fourth estate. Of late, Northeast has also witnessed a spurt of violence on the journalist community, resulting in the death of several of our comrades.
The Dimapur Press Club expresses our solidarity with the journalist community in Tripura and urge the Manik Sarkar government to see that exemplary punishment are awarded to those involved in the killing of the TV journalist. Those four arrested by the police in this case should not be allowed to go scot free. At this hour of grief, the DPC also conveys our heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family and pray that Almighty God grant solace and comfort to bear the loss.
Moa Longkumer
President
Henlly Phom
General Secretary
Dimapur Press Club
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