DIMAPUR, Sept 11 - Nagaland Press Association (NPA) on Monday expressed concern over assassination of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh, outside her home in Bengaluru on September 5.
In a statement, the NPA said that Lankesh�s weekly, which had been described as an �anti-establishment� publication, was known for being not just a critic of right-wing Hindu extremism but also raised voice against powerful organisations. It said that Gauri paid the price for standing up for her beliefs.
Stating that violence and killing was not the way to confront our differences, the NPA said that in a democracy, which we have adopted, dissent is legitimate and part of free speech.
The NPA said that it stood with the rest of the media and human fraternity in demanding that the guilty be brought to justice.
It also expressed concern over the manner in which the issue had been politicised even to the extent that the media was divided along �so called ideological lines�.
�The media is acknowledged as the fourth pillar of democracy and we should remain conscious of our duties � to stand for truth, fairness and dialogue,� the NPA asserted.
