Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 14 2009:
The JACs against the killings of Ch Sanjit and Th Rabina have taken the cudgel against the assault of the media by the state police commandos while calling upon the people to teach the police commandos a lesson.
Saying the three Ps � Public, Press and Police, have an important role in democratic country like India, a joint statement issued by the JACs pointed out that it will be wrong on the part of the police to view media as their enemy post Khwairamband incident.
It stated that the manner of the police has induced the hill people to register stiff opposition to the deployment of the state force in the hill districts.
Had the state forces done their duty sincerely, there would be no more needs for the deployment of Central forces in the state.
Apart from giving employment to thousands of unemployed youths, the AFSPA would automatically be repealed, in the absence of central paramilitary forces.
Stating that the attitude of the police towards the media cannot be viewed lightly, the JAC statement recalled several instances wherein media persons have been at the receiving end of police's arrogance.
The statement pointed out that the DGP had extracted source of news from some editors and journalists.
It added that there have been instances of opening gunshot at a newspaper office, firing tear gas shells and smoke bombs towards reporters on the beat, threatening some journalists in connection with the July 23 incident, storming of some newspapers' offices by CM's loyalists, harassment of two reporters returning home from duty.
The statement pointed out that if not a lasting solution is brought about on the matter of the assault on media persons by taking befitting action against the guilty police personnel, the practice and attitude will continue to prevail.