Enact Act against attacks on journalists, cries Assam Press Correspondents' Union

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The recent upsurge in attacks on journalists in Assam has led the APCU (Assam Press Correspondents' Union) to urge to State government to enact an Act for the protection of people working in the media.

Like every other year, the APCU observed the National Press Day at Gauhati Press Club here on Monday. It is the day when the Press Council of India was founded. The programmes of the Day started with the hoisting of the union's flag by its president Manoj Singh. In his speech, Singh expressed serious concern over the death of senior journalist Parag Bhuyan in a mysterious accident at Kakopathar in Tinsukia district recently and the inhuman physical assault on Milan Mahanta, a correspondent of Asomiya Pratidin and Dainik Asom, by gamblers at Tiniali near Mirza in Kamrup district on Sunday. Raising the demand for an Act for the protection of journalists from attacks by miscreants and others, APCU's central leaders said that under the proposed Act the State government should pay Rs 20 lakh to the next of kin of each journalist killed in such attacks as compensation.

The APCU paid tribute to the journalists who have been killed in the State since 1991. It urged the State government to speed up investigations into the killings of journalists and submit affidavits to the court so as to ensure justice. It expressed concern as most of the killers of journalists in the state have been moving scot-free.

Attending the function as a guest, senior journalist Prakash Mahanta said, "Of late attacks on journalists have been on the rise in the State. As and when journalists are assaulted in the State, the police administration wants to hush up such cases. In such a situation, the public has to come forward for the rescue of media people."

Two journalists – Deputy Editor of Amar Asom Gautam Sarma and senior photo journalist Utpal Baruah of UB Photos – were felicitated for their decades-long services in the field of journalism. On behalf of Utpal Baruah photo journalist Abdul Sajid received the honour as the former failed to turn up due some sort of emergency.

Receiving the honour, Sarma said that all journalists should fight together on all common issues. He laid stress on quality reporting.

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