PTI
GUWAHATI, JANUARY 31
Journalists today protested against the alleged 'assault and attempt to murder and outraging modesty' of a woman reporter of a Guwahati-based television news channel in Latasil Police station here where she had gone to collect news.
According to the FIR filed by the concerned woman journalist in the police station, she and the camera person of her DY365 TV news channel had gone to the police station at about 12.15 pm to cover a story.With permission of the policeman at the gate they entered the police station compound and took "photographs of the dilapidated condition of the premises and quarter rented out by policemen to others", the FIR stated.
"When we were about to leave the P S campus Sub Inspector Samsuddin Ahmed, and O/C of the concerned P S along with other police persons and tenants assaulted us and used criminal force against me intending to disrobe me", she alleged in the FIR.
"Thereafter they dragged me and my camera person inside the police station and have mercilessly beaten us and have... and have pointed official arms at us, thereby attempting to murder us and threaten us not to publish the story and have in the process broken our equipment and (we) sustained injuries," she stated.
After the incident media persons, particularly from the local TV news channels, demonstrated shouting slogan in the police station protesting against the alleged assault and demanding arrest of the concerned policemen who allegedly resorted to attack on the media persons.
DY365 Executive Editor Pranay Bordoloi told reporters in the police station that the management of the TV channel would take up the matter with the state government so that media is not attacked in a democracy.
DCP-Crime Swapnanil Deka told reporters in the police station that the incident was being inquired and action would be taken against the culprits if found guilty.
Meanwhile, Electronic Media Forum Assam (EMFA) President and Journalists Forum of Assam (JFA) Secretary Nava Thakuria in a statement condemned the alleged police atrocities on the woman scribe and urged the authority to punish the guilty.
The EMFA and JFA urged both Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi who looks after the Home department and Assam Director General of Police Khagen Sarma to take appropriate action forthwith against the "guilty" police officers, Thakuria said.
Both the organisations also decided to send a memorandum to the National Commission for Women seeking its intervention for taking stern action against the culprits.
Both the media forums also demanded framing of a law across the country to protect the media persons on duty.
Meanwhile, Congress and AIUDF condemned the alleged attack on the scribe, demanded a high level inquiry and punishment to the guilty police personnel.
