GUWAHATI, April 26 - The editorial department of Dainik Asam today condemned the attack on its journalist Rajen Deka and demanded stern action against the culprits and called upon the government to ensure protection for members of the fourth estate.
A meeting of the editorial department of Dainik Asam was held at the newspaper�s office here with its Executive Editor Munin Bayan in the chair.
Speaking on the occasion, Bayan strongly condemned the attack on Deka by miscreants at Mukalmuwa yesterday evening, which caused serious injuries to him.
Deka serves as the local correspondent of Dainik Asam at Mukalmuwa.
The meeting of the editorial department said such attempts to intimidate journalists would not succeed. It termed the incident an attack on the entire fourth estate and an attempt to infringe upon the independence of the media.
The editorial staff of Dainik Asam called upon the State government to bear the expenses of Deka�s treatment.
Calling for an inquiry into the incident, the meeting demanded stern action against the culprits who had attacked Deka.
It also condemned the attack on Tinsukia-based journalist Upasana Baruah Goswami by a group of miscreants yesterday.
The meeting demanded that the government take adequate steps for protection of journalists and called upon all sections of society to raise their voice against attacks on mediapersons.
Deputy Editor of Dainik Asam Siba Prasad Deka and senior journalist Prabhat Pathak also spoke on the occasion.
Meanwhile, condemning the attacks on the two journalists, Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Debabrata Saikia said such incidents have been rising and demanded action against the culprits.
The Journalists� Forum Assam (JFA) has also expressed serious concern at the physical assaults on two scribes of the State in separate incidents yesterday evening and urged the authorities to take stringent action against the culprits.
�We reiterate our old demand for a special protection law to safeguard the scribes across India. Moreover, we urge the media fraternity to get united and pursue quality journalism as it has become the need of the hour,� said a statement issued by JFA president Rupam Barua and secretary Nava Thakuria.
