http://arunachaltimes.com/
Media fraternity step up protests against repeated assault
ITANAGAR, Dec 16: Even after four days of the assault on two women journalists,
the case is yet to make any headway. Reacting to the hapless situation,
entire press fraternity including owners of the media houses, editorial
teams and journalists of the state, dressed in black, staged a dharna and
indulged in slogan shouting in front of the Capital Complex Deputy
Commissioner office this morning. Later, the pen-wielding contingent
marched to the Naharlagun police station joined by several well-wishers.
On December 12, Appu Gapak and Nyapi Bomjen of The Sentinel Arunachal were
assaulted while they were on duty. Irked at the repeated assault and lack
of
action by the concerned authorities, the journalists had launched a series
of democratic protests including boycott of all state government related
news reports. After today’s dharna and blacking out of portions of paper,
if
the culprits are not arrested, the fraternity would initiate pen down
protest from December 18 next and no newspaper would hit the stands till
the
culprit is arrested and punished.
Aghast at the situation, senior journalist Pradeep Kr. Behera said, “We have
been victim of such assault so many times and from hereon we can’t be
expected to take it lying down.”
Another old hand in the state print media, V Ravindran of Dawnlit Post said
that
he has been victim of such attacks many times and every time either the culprit
went scot free or was let-off within hours of arrest.
Editor of The Arunachal Times, Audrey Apang said, “Continual attack on media is
not what we deserve and justice must be delivered well in time.”
Joining the protest was another veteran and editor of Arunachal Front, Nani
Kojin who said that people should lend their support so that the
journalists
can be their voice in a healthy environment.
Reacting on a telephonic report from official sources about ‘zeroing down’ on
the culprit, APUWJ and APC reacted sharply and stated that assurance over
last 72 hours have not yielded any result and only ‘sweetened words’ would
not assuage the pain and agony caused to the fraternity. In the same
breathe, the organizations appealed to groups and individuals not to
interfere in the matter and give the issue any sort of communal overtone.
“Humiliating assault in presence of several people despite identifying
themselves as journalists is clearly an attempt to choke the voice of
media.
The administration should not delay the arrest or release the sketch of the
culprit,” said APUWJ and APC in a joint statement this evening.
Both the media bodies also urged and exhorted civil society organizations to
cooperate and support the democratic protests of the media persons.
APUWJ and APC further added that the entire fraternity is clear that they would
not settle the issue with any quarter for anything less than exemplary
punishment.
“We have had enough,” they added.
Orgs condemns attack on journalists
ITANAGAR, Dec 16:The attack on two senior reporters of The Sentinel Arunachal,
Appu Gapak and Nyapi Bomjen while they were discharging their duty as
journalists on December 13 that too without any reason or rhyme deservers
condemnation in strongest possible terms, said Arunachal Chamber of
Commerce
& Industries in a strongly worded release.
It is the press persons who against all odds have been working as watchdogs in
highlighting various aspects of developments as well as corruption eating
away the vital resources of the state meant for development. Media is the
medium to raise the voices and concerns of the people, its president Techi
Lala said in a release.
No sensible human being would think of attacking a media person, particularly
ladies. It is high time that Arunchalee society reflects its maturity by
showing its solidarity with the media to facilitate it functions freely
without any fear, the statement added.
ACCI urged the local administration, particularly the police to bring the
attacker/s to book and award exemplary punishment to bring an end to
repeated attack on the media in the state.
All Dutta Development & Welfare Association (ADDWA), Ziro, too has condemned
the
assault and has demanded immediate arrests of the unknown uncivilized
miscreant(s) at the earliest. It said that exemplary punishment must be
given so that no one could dare to assault, abuse and attack the fourth
pillar of democracy in future.
Arunachal Law Academy Students’ Union expressed deep anguish over assault. The
union said that Gapak was also former student of the Academy.
Expressing solidarity with media fraternity, the ALASU demanded the state Govt,
particularly, the law enforcing authorities to nab the accused immediately
and award punishment as per law.
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