EGM condemns
IMPHAL, Jul 25: The Editors Guild Manipur (EGM) has condemned the recent spree of murdering journalist and attacks on journalists in different parts of the country.
Recently two journalists, Vikram Joshi (50), of Jana Sagar Today based in UP and Sunil Tiwari (35), a Gwalior based journalist working with a Hindi daily were killed in different attacks. The duo were re- portedly targeted for doing their duties as journalists. Apart from the two journalist, criminals also attacked another columnist, blogger and environmentalist Rajiv Nayan who is associated with different media outlets like Nav Bharat Times, Dinman, Hindustan Hindi and Outlook.
In another incident a correspondent of BBC Dilnawaz Pasha was also detained by policemen while doing his duty but later let off after they came to know he was with BBC, said a press release issued by the EGM.
In the latest incident involving Sunil Tiwari, the journalist was reportedly targeted for writing against some influential people. He was working with a Gwalior based Hindi newspaper when he was beaten, stabbed and shot dead at MP’s Niwari locality on July 22 on his way home He succumbed to his injuries on the way to a nearby hospital. His death is being mourned and condemned by different media organisations.
Empathizing with what these journalists and their family have gone through, the EGM said that journalists in the State are also at the receiving end from time to time. Many journalists of the State also have lost their lives in the line of duty, it said. The EGM condemned such dastardly acts on journalists who are considered the eyes and ears of the public. “We join the other journalist organisations across the Nation in demanding special law to protect journalists who have been targeted again and again”, it added.