ITANAGAR, Sep 19: Police today assaulted a journalist when he was covering bandh related news at Bank Tinali here.

Police also snatched his camera and identity card. On being confronted by other journalists, police returned the camera only after deleting all the video recordings.  

Mongpong Natung, reporter, Arunachal News 24X7 was covering the clash between the security forces and the protesters between Legi Complex and Industries office when a policeman in civil dress, who was later identified as ASI Ravi Singh, suddenly stopped him and snatched his press identity card along with the video camera before hitting him.

“Despite my clarification of being a media person and same being proven by my ID which was in his possession, ASI Ravi Singh paid no heed to my pleadings and instead hit me on my head saying why I had put on a helmet. He then passed on my ID and camera to another policeman identified as sub-inspector AK Singh, who then went on to delete some crucial video footage I had captured of the clashes between the security personnel and the protesters,” Natung said.

“Despite repeated plea of being a media person and the importance of the job, which should be free of interference from the protesters as well as the police, the SI instead began taking pictures of my ID with the camera that was snatched from me,” he added.

In an emergency meeting at the Press Club here this evening, the media fraternity condemned the assault and demanded immediate suspension of both the erring police officials.

The Arunachal Press Club, Arunachal Electronic Media Association and Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalist while demanding immediate suspension were of the opinion that police has misused its power by destroying intellectual property of a media house instead of protecting the right of media persons.

The press bodies also urged the state government to give directives to the state police to behave with media person while citing that it is the second such incident where police snatched camera and deleted the content.

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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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