Conflict
KCCI urges Governor to initiate judicial probe into ‘attack on journalists’ in Shopian
Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the Governor Satya Pal Malik to initiate a time bound judicial probe into the attack on journalists in Shopian on Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, four photojournalists were injured after armed forces fired pellets during clashes which took place near the gunfight site in Shopian.
Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad, President of the Chamber, said that in our state the journalists perform their duties in a very hostile environment, many at times risking their lives. He said it was unfortunate that despite time and again bringing such incidents of assaults on unarmed civilians to the notice of the government they regularly continue to be repeated.
“It appears that certain forces are being allowed to violate the law with impunity, “he said in a statement.
National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah while condemning the forces action against journalists at Shopian said that ‘indiscriminate use of force, without any accountability, will be counterproductive.’
Moreover, Reporters Without Borders, while reacting to the incident said that the ‘violence against photojournalists by the Indian security forces was unacceptable.’
They also called for a probe into the matter.
Moreover, local associations also condemned the attack.
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In a statement, Kashmir press photographers association (KPPA) said the photo journalists visited the gunfight spot in Shopian to carry out their professional duties. “…but they were showered with pellets from a close range,” it said.
“KPPA believes that the oft-repeated assault on the photojournalists is uncalled for and employing such tactics by the government forces won’t deter us from carrying out our professional duties,” the statement said.
The association also urged the Governor Satya Pal Malik and Director General of Police Dilbag Singh to look into the matter and order a magisterial enquiry into the incident followed by strict action against the erring personnel.
Kashmir Video Journalists Association (KVJA) also condemned the attack on journalists in Shopian.
“This has become a routine that journalists while performing their professional duties are either thrashed or at time showered with pellets,” KVJA statement said.
