Attacks on journalists in Uttar Pradesh are on the rise. In two separate incidents in the past one fortnight, there have been major attacks on mediapersons in the state capital. Similar incidents are being reported form other districts as well.
On August 17, a mob comprising Muslim youth reportedly protesting against the attacks on Muslims in Assam and Burma, thrashed mediapersons and photographers and broke their cameras even as the police looked on from the sidelines. Nearly 52 mediapersons, including cameramen and photographers, were injured and many of them lost their equipment. The state government on Wednesday distributed compensation to those whose equipment had been broken in the attack.
Two days ago, two reporters were beaten up in full public view by student leaders, owing allegiance to the Samajwadi Party, on the Lucknow University campus. The student leaders were heard abusing mediapersons and holding them responsible for the strict implementation of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations in the upcoming student union elections.
The attackers held the reporters at gunpoint and told them, “We will kill you if you continue reporting on student union affairs.”
Perturbed by the reports, UP governor B.L. Joshi, who is also the chancellor of state universities,-has now sought a detailed report from the university authorities on the incident and the action taken in the matter.
The university administration, meanwhile, is yet to initiate any action in the matter and assistant proctor O.P. Shukla told mediapersons that there were many students of same name and that the details of those involved in the violence were being gathered. “We will issue suspension notices only after we have all the facts,” he said.
Since the university refuses to identify the accused named in the FIR, the police is also delaying action since the accused belong to the ruling party.