Media faces police wrath at Sopore.
SRINAGAR : Police allegedly thrashed many media persons working in different national and state based organisations during post Friday clashes in Sopore town of Baramulla district.
The media persons who were thrashed without any provocation were covering the clashes between police and security forces. Thrashed scribes alleged that the cops attacked photojournalists of Varmul post Eeshan Peer and Mohd Younis of Gulistan news, resulting in injuries to them.
They also alleged that the erring cops not only thrashes but abused them and chased away from the spot of protest.
“They not only beat us but abused other media persons and chased us away said injured Eeshan Peer. Ehsaan Peer as quoted by the section of media reports said that “SHO Sopore said either leave the area or I will shoot. He then started beating and abusing us. My left leg has been fractured and my left hand is also bruised. We were simply carrying out professional duties.”
When the matter was brought up with the Superintendent of police, Sopore Harmeet Singh by the scribes, he said that he was investigating the matter.
The Baramulla Working Journalist Association held a meeting related to this incident and demands action.
During the meeting the association condemned the attack on journalists and demanded immediate action against the cops.
They said that if action is not taken, they will boycott all functions of police and will come on street to protest.
Meanwhile Kashmir Press Photographers Association convened an emergency meeting to discuss the assault on journalists by the force personnel in Sopore area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday.
The meeting strongly condemned the assault on the journalists by the force personnel. The Association demanded that action should be taken against the force personnel involved in beating and assault the journalists.
Pertinently, on March 16, 2017, the DO Humhama physically assaulted senior photo-journalists Tauseef Mustafa (AFP), Mubashir Khan (Greater Kashmir), Farooq Javed Khan (European Press Photo Agency), Umar Sheikh (Times Now) and Shauib Masoodi (Indian Express) Imran Nisar (DNA). Recently on Thursday a bank security guard manhandled India TV reporter Manzoor Mir without any provocations.
The Kashmir media is working under increasing and constant pressure from the state agencies like JK Police and para-military troopers. (PTK)