Attack on reporters for covering students' democratic protest for their basic amenities in a university in India is, to say the least, a cowardly attempt at repressing and muffling voices raised for basic human rights. It is condemnable in the strongest terms. http://www.sentinelassam.com/cachar/story.php?sec=2&subsec=12&id=65825&dtP=2011-02-26&ppr=1
AU proctor leads assault on scribes <http://www.sentinelassam.com/cachar/story.php?sec=2&subsec=12&id=65825&dtP=2011-02-26&ppr=1> >From our Staff Reporter SILCHAR, Feb 25: A group of mediapersons mainly belonging to Guwahati-based private channels were reportedly assaulted by security guards of Assam University (AU) in the campus on Friday. Mediapersons were covering the agitation of students staying at the hostel. Samir Sen Deka of a private channel received injury on his chest and was shifted to Silchar Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Security guards allegedly led by proctor Manabendra Dutta Choudhury had assaulted other mediapersons including Arup Nandi and Bibhuti Majumdar of another two private channels. Guards had snatched three laptop computers as alleged by Nandi. Dutta Choudhury while contacted by The Sentinel refused to make any comment as he said, “I am not authorized to say anything”. He further added that “let the scribes say whatever they wanted to”. Hostel borders of the Assam University had resorted to blockade at the main gate of the campus on Friday demanding immediate uninterrupted water supply. Ratan Das, general secretary of Assam University Students’ Council told The Sentinel that drinking water crisis in the hotel was acute for a long time. Even there was scarcity of toilets. Students had been demanding for permanent solution, but the authority turned a deaf ear to it, he alleged. Arup Nandi on the other hand said they took footage of the students agitation. They were sending the news through their laptops while Dutta Choudhury along with security guards opposed them. “Manabendra Dutta Choudhury first kicked at a laptop and then the guards jumped on us”, said Nandi. A group of agitating students later on came to their rescue. Nandi said the AU staff snatched their laptops. The scribes later launched an FIR in Silchar sadar thana. The scribe named Manabendra Dutta Choudhury and Ramendra Bhattacharjee, students welfare director in the FIR. -- W A Laskar Freelance Reporter and Human Rights Defender with Barak Human Rights Protection Committee <http://bhrpc.wordpress.com/>, http://bhrpc.wordpress.com 15, Panjabari Road, Darandha, Six Mile, Guwahati-781037, Assam, India Cell: +919401942234 Visit my blog <http://www.rightspeaks.blogspot.com> at www.rightspeaks.blogspot.com Skype: rights.defender -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "humanrights movement" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/humanrights-movement?hl=en.
