NEW DELHI, Oct 17: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) has expressed grave concern over the brutal murder of K Satyanarayana, correspondent of Telugu daily Andhra Jyothi, at Thondangi Mandal in East Godavari district on Tuesday night, when he was returning home from work.
Satyanarayana is reported to have been writing against antisocial elements, and had earlier also been attacked a month ago.
In a statement, IJU Interim President Geetartha Pathak and Secretary-General Sabina Inderjit demanded that the Andhra Pradesh government bring the culprits to book immediately, and urged that it give compensation to the family of the slain journalist.
The union expressed serious concern at the rising attacks on journalists in the state as well as the country, and reiterated its demand for a safety law for journalists to protect and safeguard the freedom of the press.
It welcomed the Press Council of India’s (PCI) taking suo moto cognizance of the attack and directing the Andhra government, particularly the chief secretary and the DGP, to submit a report at the earliest. The action follows the request of the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists, along with Press Council member MA Majid and former members Sreenivas Reddy and Amarnath Kosuri, to the PCI chairman.
“All governments must view the attacks on journalists as an attack on the freedom of the press, and provide adequate protection to the fourth estate to carry out its duties without fear,” the IJU said.
