Journalists lathicharged while covering demo in Guwahati
2013-10-01 | Guwahati, Assam
Ref:
Guwahati, Assam
Several photojournalsits were injured in a police lathicharge when they were covering a demonstration organised by the KMSS led by Akhil Gogoi.
The following are two press releases from journalists' organisations in Assam:
Press Release of Journalists Union of Assam (JUA):
JUA condemns lathicharge on the journalists who were covering demonstration of KMSS led by Akhil Gogoi at Lastgate, Guwahati on Oct 01, 2013. In the incident several photojournalists were injured.
This is not the first time the police has lathichrged journalists while they were on duty, police highhandedness in dealing with the journalists has become a routine affair in the state, JUA demands inquiry on the incident of lathicharge on journalists on October 01, 2013 at Dispur Lastgate, Guwahati.
JUA has also expressed grave concern at the closure of Prime News TV channel aired from Guwahati and retrenchment of entire news staff of the channel. JUA urgesthe government to step in to the incident and take appropriate steps to save livelthood of the retreched staff of Prime News.
JUA has strongly condemned physical attack on Rantu Baishya , a journalist from North Guwahati by local Congress Leader Kanika Das who also snatched the camera of the journalist. The police reportedly has taken no action against the Congress leader in spite of filing FIR against Ms Kanika Das. JUA demands immidiate action against the local Congress goon.
Geetartha Pathak
President , JUA
APJA condemns police atrocities on photojournalists on duty
The Assam Photo Journalist Association (APJA) has condemned the police lathi-charge on a number of photojournalists, who were on duty to cover the KMSS demonstration at Dispur last gate today. The police personnel resorted to lathi-charge on the agitating KMSS activists and they did not also spare the photojournalists on the location.
The APJA has warned the police administration o keep away their personnel from attacking the journalists in feature. The police attacked the media persons so that they can evade the coverage of their barbaric actions on the agitators. The injured photojournalists include Biju Boro, Rebo Borah, Dibyajyoti Das Rava, Banajit Bhuyan, Rupjyoti Sarma with others.