The Media Unity for Freedom of Press ( MUFP ) condemns the criminal attack on several media persons by unruly members of the Dalit Adivasi Surakshya Manch who staged a road blockade on the NH-5 in Bhubaneswar today in support of their demands. MUFP is shocked and surprised over the incident because the media has always been on the side of the neglected, down-trodden and poor sections of our population.
While MUFP agrees that media persons do get caught in cross fire during such police-people confrontation and that it is part of professional hazard, the eyewitness accounts suggest the photo journalists covering the incident were specifically targeted to ensure the criminal elements in the mob are not captured on camera.
The MUFP holds the Dalit Adivasi Surakshya Manch as well as its leaders responsible for the attack and calls for a complete ban on publication of statements by the Manch leaders and and coverage of any activity undertaken by the organisation until they submit a written apology and come forward with the names of the attackers.
Media friends Ashok Panda ( The Samaya), Satya Mishra ( Orissa Post), Dhruba Mishra (Sambad Kalika) , Manoj Swain Junior ( Pragativadi), Surendra Prusty( Dinalipi ) and 4 others have been injured in the attack by Manch activists.
They have already filed an FIR with the Sahid Nagar police station against the Manch President Bidyadhar Dehuri, General Secretary Ashok Mallick, Vice-president Duryodhan Parida, Laxmidhar Behera, Rabindra Behera, Kailsah Mishra and several others for " instigating" the Manch members to attack mediapersons.
The MUFP Presidium will collect more information from our photo journalist friends who have sustained injuries and losses during the coverage on Tuesday and will come up with a detailed report to be shared with all members