GUWAHATI, Aug 28 � The attacks on journalists in sporadic incidents of violence in different parts of the State during the bandh called by All Assam Minority Students� Union (AAMSU) has been condemned by the media fraternity.
The Journalists� Forum, Assam (JFA) and Assam Photojournalist Association have asked the State government to arrest and punish the perpetrators immediately.
The Journalists� Forum, Assam (JFA) has expressed their concern over the growing attacks on media persons in the State. �Specially, today�s incidents of attack on journalists at Barpeta, Tezpur, Goalpara are attacks on the freedom of the press. Immediate and strict action should be taken against those, misusing their power by assaulting working journalists,� a statement from JFA mentioned.
The Assam Photojournalist Association, while condemning the incident, has demanded immediate action against the culprits involved in the crime.�
�In Goalpara, satellite channel News Live reporter Amulya Kumar Nath was brutally attacked by AAMSU supporters and his camera was also snatched by the miscreants. Nath was admitted to Goalpara Civil Hospital. News Live reporter Joyjyoti Gogoi was injured in police baton charge in Sivsagar district. Two journalists were attacked by bandh supporters in Barpeta Road. In another incident a news paper delivery van was set ablaze in Tezpur. A reporter was attacked at Moirabari in Morigaon by the bandh supporters. Another Journalist in Barama at Baksa was attacked by the AAMSU activists,� mentioned a statement.
The Journalist Union of Assam (JUA) has also expressed deep concern at the deliberate attacks on media persons covering impacts of Assam bandh. JUA demanded the authorities to take stern action against the culprits who targeted the journalists. �The agitators should know that the journalists are neutral observers and they have to report about the incidents impartially. We also appeal journalists of the State to play a proactive role to bring back normalcy in the State,� a statement mentioned.
The Electronic Media Forum of Assam and Assam Unit of Working Journalists have also urged the authorities to nab the culprits immediately.
Our Correspondent from Tezpur adds: Different scribes bodies including All Assam Journalists� Union, APCU, Sonitpur district, Sonitpur Press Club and Sonitpur Journalist Union have vehemently condemned the attack on scribes at various places of the State during the bandh.
Our Correspondents from Goalpara adds: Condemnation has poured in from the journalists� fraternity of the district when TV journalist Amulya Nath of Newslive was targeted by some protestors and his camera was damaged, while he was covering the incident. He was later admitted to the hospital for immediate medical attention and a case has been registered by the police.
Our Correspondents from Sivasagar adds: The Sivasagar Press Club and several other organizations, in a protest meet, condemned the lathi charge on the journalist Joyjyoti Gogoi, who was covering the incident. The members of the press club later submitted a memorandum to the Sivasagar DC Jatindra Lahkar demanding an apology from the ASP, who beat the journalist with baton.
