Last Monday’s assault of a journalist working for a capital-based digital media house in one phrase can be called as shameful and anti-democratic. If this is yet another instance of erosion of the much-hallowed ethos of freedom of speech, the fact that it has attracted wide reprimand from all sections of society in the state is also a big and optimistic takeaway from the episode, which, otherwise is much painful. This particular case can safely be counted as a representative example of what normally happens in the country- putting into effect the handpicked offensive means to muzzle any truth which the ‘stakeholder(s)’ feel, should never hit the public domain as they have all the ‘qualities’ to expose their ‘handiwork’, usually engineered through covert and unethical methods. Voices against these antagonists of true spirit of democracy will always be there since the country’s socio-political-economic ecosystem with citizens being the most-important component, still draws inspiration from the democratic principles guaranteed by the Constitution of India. They will be raised according to the needs for sure. But the end result, which is delivery of justice to the victims can hardly be achieved until the punishment process is diligently pursued by authorities, an aspect which has been rather hollow till now, so far as records go.
The journalist who faced the ire was gathering facts about pollution, a problem which exerts a baneful ubiquitous effect on people and is a national challenge too. He represented the press, the fourth estate of democracy and was discharging professional duties and was rather fortunate of not being shot or an attempt on life of similar kind, as has been the case with many of his peers during recent times across India, including Arunachal Pradesh. A study which emerged last December containing a compilation of wrongdoings on journos between 2014 and 2019 says that as many as 40 of them were killed between this period and most unfortunately, in more than 30 cases of killings, there have been only three convictions. It can be vividly recalled how reporters and photo journalists were the soft targets while covering the Delhi violence during Feb-March. The world is watching all these and it’s no surprise that the killing of a Kanpur-based Hindi daily on June 19 last has propelled the UNESCO Director General to ask the Indian authorities to prosecute the killers in order to end ‘gunpoint censorship’. The caveat came on Tuesday and it remains to be seen how seriously it is taken.
It’s quite easy to understand why such misdeeds are being repeated. The ‘long arm of the law’ mysteriously gets shortened in these cases where ‘critical journalism’ is attempted for the larger good of society and the perpetrators continue to remain scot-free. Until this is amended, no real change should be expected.   

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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