JORHAT, Feb 11 � Condemning the incident of assault on two television journalists by the Guwahati Police, 41 journalists of Jorhat recently staged a sit-in protest against the violation of rights by law enforcers, in front of the DC�s office and submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi (through the Deputy Commissioner) for taking legal action against the accused police personnel.
It may be mentioned that two journalists were allegedly assaulted by two city police officials at the Latasil police station in Guwahati a few days ago when the scribes were doing an investigation in connection with their duty.
According to the protesters, the attack by police on journalists on duty is a serious violation of democratic rights. As the journalists are constitutionally empowered to conduct investigation in the greater interest of the people, no police official can stop him or her from doing duty anywhere in country if legal provisions does not restrict such an investigation, said several senior journalists here.
�We request the Chief Minister to take necessary action against those police officers who violated the law and prevented the two journalists from doing their duty in the premises of a police station in Guwahati a few days ago. Police cannot stop journalists in doing investigation for greater interest of the state. Such an attack is a threat to democracy and therefore the accused police officials must be punished,� said Ashok Kumar Barua, president of Jorhat Press Club.
He requested the Chief Minister to ensure adequate security to all the scribes in the State who have brought to light cases of corruption, violation of human rights and criticise the government�s negligence towards development of several backward areas across the State.
Criticising the delay in action against the accused police officials, senior journalist of Jorhat, Ananta Narayan Borthakur said that police attack on scribes is �a very shameful incident� which exposed the lack of proper legal knowledge of law enforcers who have been entrusted by the democratic government to maintain the law-and order-situation in the State.
�If law enforcers like the police do not know the constitutional rights of journalists it is very shameful. Guilty officials must be punished by the authorities concerned as per existing legal provisions. Government officials cannot stop journalists from exposing the real pictures which are always tried to be kept hidden,� said Borthakur.
He demanded Chief Minister Gogoi to ensure the democratic rights of whistle-blowers who keep themselves busy in highlighting the actual causes of slow development of the State, which has allegedly witnessed cases of rampant corruption by ministers and government officials.
�No agency cannot act by violating the legal rights of any citizen. Let the Guwahati incident be the last incident of brutality by police either on journalists or other law--abiding common citizens. Government must control its law enforcers by providing adequate training,� said Rajib Bora, the secretary of the Jorhat Press Club.
