By Our Reporter
SHILLONG,NOV 28: The Meghalaya Electronic Media Association (MEMA) has condemned the attack on Garo hills based freelance journalist Biplab Dey near Damra in Goalpara, Assam on November 26. Dey was assaulted when he tried taking photos and video evidence of an illegal check gate near Damra in Goalpara, Assam. The freelance journalist was attacked by a group that was manning the illegal gate. It is learnt that the phone of the journalist was damaged after one of the assailants stamped on it while attempting to destroy the evidence.
The incident happened at about 9:25 pm when the said check gate was collecting an amount of Rs 1500 from all coal trucks including from Garo hills plying on the same route.
MEMA president Kyrmenlang Uriah voiced his concern over growing instances of violence against journalists. He said journalists provide a service that is essential for any democratic society. Journalists play a crucial role in enabling citizens to know what is happening around, to keep the public informed and to expose the misdeeds of the mighty & powerful.
He said that criminal intimidation of journalists and preventing them from performing their duties were violations of the freedoms enshrined in and guaranteed by the constitution.
He urged the Assam chief minister & home minister to take stern action and book the culprits and show that no individual(s) are beyond the rule of law.
He also reiterated MEMA’s demand from the Meghalaya government to implement the Risk Insurance Scheme for working journalist in the state of Meghalaya.
Copies of the letter were also submitted to the Meghalaya and Assam chief ministers’ state chief secretary, DC and SP of Goalpara district informing them about the incident.
+ There are no comments
Add yours