Many condemn assault on journalist
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 13 2018: The Press Club of India (PCI), Indian Women Press Corps and the Federation of Press Clubs in India, have strongly condemned the brutal assault by Assam police personnel on journalists, including women journalists, covering a student protest on March 10 near the Assam-Mizoram border.

A press release issued by the journalist organisations stated that one woman television journalist, Emmy C Lawbei, with News 18, sustained serious injuries on her shoulders and arms.

According to her account, the police chased and beat up the journalists even as the scribes kept telling them that they were not a part of the protest.

According to the journalists, not only were they lathi charged but the police opened fire as well, it explained.

It further mentioned that the right to democratic forms of protest is a part of the constitutional democracy and the fourth estate has a responsibility to report in public interest.

The deliberate targeting of journalists in full view can only have the effect of intimidating the media from conducting its duties, it added, and demanded the Assam Government to identify the police personnel involved in the incident and to take up strict actions against them under the laws of the land.

On the other hand, the Zillai (Vaiphei Students' Association) GHQ, has strongly condemned the high handedness and barbaric act of the District Administration of Hailakandi, Assam and the Assam police personnel on the innocent Mizo youths and media persons.

The police lathi charged and fired indiscriminately on the small group of Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) members and the accompanying media persons also bore the brunt of the police brutality, resulting in a number of injuries including a lady journalist, it alleged.

Stating that the horrific images emerging from the scene of the incident speak for themselves, it mentioned that the high handedness of the District Administration in deploying such a large number of armed police personnel in countering the small group of Mizo youths and the ensuing violent acts, are totally uncalled for.

Condemning the act, it further demanded appropriate punishments for all the officials and personnel involved and justice to be given to the Mizo youths and the media persons.

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