SRINAGAR: Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh on Wednesday ordered immediate action against the police officer for undesirable behaviour with journalists in Srinagar while covering Muharram processions.
“DGP J&K Sh Dilbag Singh takes a serious view of undesirable behaviour with some media men in Srinagar yesterday. SSP Srinagar directed to take immediate action against the erring police officer,” JK police said in a tweet.
DGP J&K Sh Dilbag Singh takes serious view of undesirable behaviour with some media men in Srinagar yesterday. SSP Srinagar directed to take immediate action against the erring police officer.
— J&K Police (@JmuKmrPolice) August 18, 2021
Earlier on Tuesday, a group of journalists were thrashed by Jammu and Kashmir Police in Srinagar. The journalists were covering the Muharram procession in Srinagar’s city center at Jehangir Chowk when police beat them up.
Meanwhile, National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah said the police action was unfortunate and expressed hope that Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha will ensure such incidents are not repeated.
“Very unfortunate to see J&K police personnel mercilessly thrashing journalists in Srinagar. These people were simply doing their jobs – reporting the news. They don’t make the news & they don’t engineer events to create the story. I hope @OfficeOfLGJandK will ensure no repeat,” Abdullah said on Twitter.
Very unfortunate to see J&K police personnel mercilessly thrashing journalists in Srinagar. These people were simply doing their jobs – reporting the news. They don’t make the news & they don’t engineer events to create the story. I hope @OfficeOfLGJandK will ensure no repeat. https://t.co/d7ycL0rTPL
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 17, 2021
He also demanded that an independent photojournalist be compensated for the loss as his equipment was damaged allegedly in the police action.
“He’s an independent photo-journalist. His camera is his livelihood. The administration owes it to Sajad to compensate him for the loss he has suffered while working,” the NC leader said.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti also took to Twitter to highlight the issue.
“Media is spending hours debating the human tragedy & unfolding crisis in Afghanistan but will they speak up for their own community in Kashmir who were beaten to pulp today by security forces for doing their job?” Mufti tweeted.
The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) termed the thrashing of media persons as “unfortunate”.
Media is fourth pillar of democracy and the routine coverage as part of its professional obligation must be allowed, they should not be intimated while performing their duties, the party said in a statement.
JKPCC feels disappointed over the thrashing of mediapersons, who were covering Muharram procession and expresses its full solidarity with the media fraternity, it said.
The party urges the government to ensure that mediapersons are allowed to perform their duties, without any fear, it added.
The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference (JKPC) led by Sajad Lone too condemned the police action.
“Merciless beating of journalists is highly condemnable. We express serious concern over such repeated acts of use of force on the media fraternity without any accountability. Surprisingly, the upholders of the law are out to demolish the founding principles of law,” the JKPC said in a tweet.
