ITANAGAR, Aug 28: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU), the premier organisation of working journalists in the country has strongly condemned the attack on media persons and their vehicles in Panchkula, Haryana by the followers of Dera Sachcha Sauda head, Gurumeet Ram Rahim, who was convicted for two rape cases by the CBI special court.
In a statement,IJU President S N Sinha and Secretary General D Amar noted that the dera goons brutally attacked TV crews and other journalists without any provocation with stones and sharp weapons. The dera supporters also set numerous OB vans on fire, besides other media vehicles.
“The assault on the media was meant to stop the information and scare away the media”, they said and demanded that the Haryana Government take immediate and strong action against the culprits of the dera and their instigators to prevent recurrence of such incidents and compensate the loss of the media.
“We also urge upon all the governments to give adequate security cover to the scribes so that media can function in a fearless situation”, the duo said.
The IJU also called upon all working journalists in the country to protest against the lack of safety of journalists in the country.
