Policeman assaults journalist in Dimapur; asks his religion

Our Reporter
Dimapur, May 8 (EMN): A reporter for the Dimapur-based newspaper, Nagaland Page, was assaulted by a personnel of the Government Railway Police Force (GRPF) on Friday while on his way home after covering a Red Cross event.

According to the reporter’s account, at around 12 noon on Friday, he had reached the Dimapur Railway Station foot over-bridge en route to his residence at Netaji Colony.

Since there was no barricade, he decided to use it to get to the other side (Hanuman Mandir) but was stopped by two police personnel who informed him that entry/exit was not allowed.

So he asked them if he could use the railway platform, upon which the two police personnel suggested that he take permission from the GRPF personnel on duty.

“I noticed three officers, two males, one female, sitting at the beginning of the platform and decided to ask them and if they would allow to use it, if not, I would go back,” he said.

“One of them asked me if I had an identity card with me; I showed him the press identity card, but the other officer, just stood up in a rage and questioned who told me to use the platform.”

According to him, he was led back to the railway bridge and questioned if the first two police personnel had allowed him to cross the platform.

“I explained that they didn’t and that they said the station was sealed and so was the bridge; I tried to explain that I was just there to ask and that was why I had reached them and I wasn’t trying to use the platform without permission.”

The reporter, who is also visually impaired, stated that the personnel who led him away started slapping him in a fit of rage even though he tried to explain that he was simply asking if it was possible to cross the platform.

“My spectacles flew from my face on the ground as he continued assaulting.”

He said that the police personnel assaulting him had asked if he was a Muslim.

Upon replying that he belonged to the Bengali community, the GRPF personnel slapped him again and asked him to go back to his home state and spread the virus if he wanted to.

“One of the three officers, who had checked my identity card and was standing quietly led me out of the platform instead of taking me to the ‘thana,’ and asked me if my spectacles broke, I told him it didn’t. He apologised on behalf of the assaulting officer as he escorted me outside the platform,” he said.

The journalist later found out that his glasses were damaged during the assault.

The victim informed his editor of the assault and was suggested to file an FIR. But before the victim could go to the police station, a police van was already been on the lookout for him.

A senior editor at Nagaland Page said that the police went “hunting” for the victim and created confusion in Netaji Colony amongst the residents and neighbours.

“If a group of police personnel come looking for the victim, asking where a reporter of Nagaland Page resides, it would create confusion and chaos as though he has committed a big crime,” said the senior editor.

The Editor of Nagaland Page, Monalisa Changkija, condemned the “muscle tactic” that the police has portrayed in the unfortunate incident.

“After giving a statement, we wanted to file an FIR but I heard they wanted to file a counter FIR; they don’t know what they getting themselves into,” said Changkija.

She maintained that she would not withdraw her statement (which can lead to filing an FIR) unless she is satisfied with an apology from the police.

“This will not be a compromise of any kind but a sincere and outright apology that is expected,” said Changkija adding that it is not weakness but strength to accept the apology from the police.

“There are some in the police force that are bad and some that have held the fort and are solid gold in the Police department; but this is not the time to lose focus, the police should know who the real enemy is at this juncture,” said Changkija.

“My reporter is from Nagaland, this is his state; why was his religion and community such an issue?” questioned the editor.

Changkija also said that there was no directive or notice from the police or the government declaring the railway station restricted.

Apology

In a letter, the UBC of the GRPS, S James Lotha has tendered unconditional apology to the victim, his family and Nagaland Page for use of inappropriate language and physical force. Further, it was stated that an intensive enquiry into the incident has been initiated.

A press release from the ADCP (Crime) and PRO (Dimapur Police) stated that appropriate disciplinary action has been taken against the erring personnel.

Press bodies condemn

The Nagaland Press Association (NPA) issued a statement condemning the assault.

“The NPA would like to point out that the central and state governments have understood the significant role of media in the current time of crisis and had deemed it as part of essential services that needed to function during the lockdown. In this connection, the NPA urges Nagaland government to direct the state police not to impede the free functioning of the Press and also to sensitise police personnel to allow journalists to work without any obstacles,” read the statement.

The Dimapur Press Club (DPC) pointed out that time and again, over the years, journalists in Nagaland have been at the receiving end of police brutality and high-handedness.

“On countless occasions, Nagaland police personnel have assaulted journalists in the state with impunity. However, the frequency of such distasteful policing, if indeed the men/women in khaki consider assaulting civilians an act of policing, does not in any way abate the shock with which the Dimapur Press Club received the news of physical assault and communal abuse meted out to one of our members by the police in Dimapur on Friday,” it stated.

The DPC demanded befitting punishment to the officer concerned.

In a statement, the Kohima Press Club (KPC) condemned ‘the undue assault of a reporter’.

“We are seized with apprehension that such intimidation and high-handedness of a law enforcing officer brings to question the safety and security of journalists. Such unruly action, if not restrained, will detriment the freedom of the Press. We urge upon the state government to take steps to enable the Press to discharge their duties in a free and fair manner,” it stated.