Dear Editor,
This refers to the report, “Press bodies condemn attack on Shillong Times editor’s residence” (State News, April 19, 2018). I am still in a state of shock after reading the news about the petrol bomb attack at the residence of the Editor of the Shillong Times, Patricia Mukhim.
Freedom of the Press is now in great danger. Journalists like Gouri Lankesh, Shantanu Bhowmik and K.J. Singh have been murdered in different parts of our country a few months ago. It tells a very sad tale of the present status of press freedom.
Already, India has slipped three places in just one year from 133rd in 2016 to 136th in 2017 as per the World Press Freedom Ranking Index. It will be a bad day for democracy if the Press has to work in a reign of terror.
It is a shame that we could not save rationalists like Narendra Davolkar, Govind Pansare, Malleshappa Kalburgi, Gouri Lankesh and others.
This underscores the need for speedy criminal justice delivery system for the survival of our democracy. We must remember that democracy cannot survive without free press.
All of us must condemn dastardly attack on the Press and demand immediate arrest of the culprits. Also, it is necessary to find out the force behind this cowardice act and to bring them to justice without delay.
Yours,
Sujit De,
Kolkata