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The Editors Guild of India (EGI) on Thursday wrote to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal expressing concern over rising incidents of violence towards journalists in the state. Journalists in Assam have been subjected to mob assaults, intimidation and threats, which is vitiating the surroundings essential for the functioning of an unbiased and vibrant media, the EGI mentioned in a letter to Sonowal.
“The Editors Guild of India writes to you with deep concern about the growing incidence of violence against journalists in Assam. While we appreciate your firm condemnation of these incidents, the situation demands your urgent intervention,” it learn. The EGI sought the chief minister’s intervention to guarantee the media that they’re secure to report with out fearing retribution from criminals and, in the absence of that, a way of impunity may embolden attackers who might consider that they’re above the legislation.
In the letter, the Guild talked about two latest incidents in which one journalist was attacked and one other was run over and killed by a automotive. “The manner in which Milan Mahanta, 42, who writes for Asomiya Pratidin and Dainik Asom, was tied to a pole by five criminals and beaten mercilessly, is a testament of the difficult environment in which the journalists work in Assam,” mentioned the letter signed by EGI’s President Seema Mustafa, General Secretary Sanjay Kapoor and Treasurer Anant Nath.
Mahanta, who named the assailants in his criticism, claimed that he was overwhelmed up for his reportage towards playing and land mafias in Kamrup district. “This incident comes close on the heels of the death of Parag Bhuyan, a journalist with Pratidin Time, who was overrun by a car near his home in Kakopathar,” the Guild mentioned.
The Pratidin Time channel has alleged that Bhuyan was murdered as he had been receiving threats for exposing corruption and unlawful actions of the legal nexus in the Kakopathar space of Tinsukia district. “We record our appreciation of your efforts in bringing monetary relief to the kin of the 32 journalists killed in Assam since 1991 with generous compensations.
However, most of the cases have not been resolved with allegations of shoddy investigations,” the EGI identified. In many circumstances, culprits roam free intimidating the households of the slain journalists, it added.
“We hope you will urge the state police to take necessary steps for rebuilding confidence in the media, so that they can operate without fear,” mentioned the letter. When contacted, the Chief Minister’s Office confirmed receipt of the letter from the EGI.
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