GUWAHATI, May 20 - The Guwahati Press Club (GPC) recently moved the Director General of Central Bureau of Investigation, National Investigation Agency and Assam Police on the issue of summoning a number of journalists in connection with various cases in recent times.
In a letter to the three law enforcing agencies, GPC general secretary Sanjoy Ray said that of late there has been a spurt in cases of journalists � who had covered important and sensitive events from ground zero putting their lives in danger � being summoned by the law enforcers.
Asserting that it is the journalists� moral duty and responsibility to cooperate with the investigating agencies in whatever way they can, the letter said, �We are deeply concerned about the recent developments. We would also like to reassert the significance of freedom of speech and journalists� right to do their duties without fear or favour. What has struck us in the entire episode is the manner in which some of these journalists were asked to appear before the investigation agency. In some of the recent cases, investigators had summoned journalists without even serving them formal notices. While some were asked to appear over a phone call, others were merely sent a text message.�
A copy of the letter has also been sent to the office of Assam Chief Minister and to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
