EMFA condemns attack on media persons

 

EMFA condemns attack on media persons

Guwahati: Electronic Media Forum Assam (EMFA) has expressed serious
concern at the increasing rate of assaults on media persons in the
recent past and urged the authority to take stern action against them,
who are involved with the incidents. The television journalist forum
also appeals to the civil society group and general populace to
support the media persons to perform their duties without
interferences.
Mentionable is that the coal mafia in Sibsagar attacked Bipin Hazarika
of DY365, an influential satellite news channel of Assam, on March 20
for his initiative to report about the illegal open cast coal mining
in his locality. Hazarika received serious injuries when a group of
thugs, suspectedly appointed by the coal mafia, attacked him on duty.
Even his camera was snatched away. An FIR has already been lodged in
the nearby police station.
Meanwhile, Walton Lytan, a photo journalist of UB Photos, a photo
news-agency based in Guwahati was assaulted by an MLA of Meghalaya on
March 19. The member of ruling Congress party in the State Assembly,
FS Cajee brutally attacked the photo journalist as he photographed
the MLA in sleeping when the Assembly session was going on, and later
it was published in a Shillong based newspaper. The Shillong press
club president David Laitphlang informed that Walton Lytan was
hospitalized after the incident and an FIR was lodged in the police
station.
The EMFA has urged both the governments at Dispur (Guwahati) and
Shillong to take appropriate actions such that the journalists can get
the confidence to report about hard issues. Otherwise, many reporters
may find it safer and opt to report only soft issues like fashion
show, business press meets, government releases etc, stated in the
statement issued by EMFA president Nava Thakuria.

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