Unfortunate incident
Recently three local journalists were thrashed allegedly at the instance of SSP Anantnag while they were covering DDC elections. The entire political leadership of Kashmir reacted to this incident and condemned their thrashing by police.
Mehbooba Mufti in her tweet said that they were thrashed as they had an interview of a PAGD candidate who told them that he was not allowed to vote by police along with his supporters in a South Kashmir polling booth.
Kashmir Press Club and other journalist organizations have demanded a probe into this incident and have even asked SEC to take a note of such happening while the journalists go to perform their professional duties on the ground. One of the thrashed journalists claimed that the police seized their equipment, the statement said, adding that the journalists were taken to a nearby police station after Anantnag senior superintendent of police arrived at the spot. Rafiq was admitted to a hospital, the association said, citing Lolu, another local journalist who was also thrashed on the spot.
“The KPC further urges that the authorities should ensure that an enabling atmosphere is created for the free and fair functioning of the media in Kashmir,” the statement added.
The incident happened during the fifth phase of the council elections in the Anantnag district. It has brought to focus the continued happenings of such nature with those journalists who go and cover the incidents especially the gunfights.
Although these three journalists were later released but the way they were thrashed and the continued silence of the administration over the incident speak volumes of how serious the government takes such incidents and also their inclination to fix the responsibility in such cases.
