http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article-southasia.asp?parentid=74903
INDIA: Media coverage fanned Gujjar violence, say cops Rajasthan Police accuses media of instigating violence in May Times of India Saturday, July 28, 2007 By Dhananjay Mahapatra New Delhi --- The Rajasthan police, which bore the brunt of the violent Gujjar agitation to press for ST status in May this year, has said that the unrestrained coverage of the unfortunate incidents by local and national electronic media fanned the violence. Director-general of police A S Gill, in his affidavit before the Supreme Court, did a comparison of the behaviour of the domestic media with its US counterparts and said the latter had exercised extreme restraint during the terror attack on the twin towers in New York in 2001. Giving details of the incidents and the police action during the turmoil, Gill said the police had opened fire on Gujjars after an RAC constable was hacked to death and the mob did not relent in its attack on the police force. The firing resulted in the death of six Gujjars. The manner in which the 24X7 news channels repeatedly telecast the incident also contributed to the spread of violence to areas earlier unaffected by the bandh call, the DGP said. "The Supreme Court may take notice of the fact that in the aftermath of the 9/11 World Trade Center tragedy, the US electronic media refrained from telecasting images of dead bodies throughout," he said. The top cop requested the court to consider the impact of the unrestrained coverage of the incidents by the visual media on the Gujjar population. However, he went on to say, "The telecast did not in any manner contribute in bringing about peace, harmony and amicable relationship among citizens and between citizens and government." Timely intervention of the police prevented a major clash at several places between Gujjars and Meenas as a large number of members of the Meena community had started congregating at various places in and around the affected area to counter the Gujjars' demand for ST status, he said. Date Posted: 7/28/2007
