The International Federation of

Journalists (IFJ) joins partner organisations in the South Asia Media

Solidarity Network (SAMSN) in expressing serious concern at reports of the

alleged torture in custody of journalist Lingaram Kodopi in the central Indian

state of Chhattisgarh.

Kodopi, a freelance journalist from

one of the indigenous communities of Chhattisgarh, was arrested

on September 10 on charges of raising funds for a banned Maoist insurgent

group.

Reports from Chhattisgarh indicate

that when Kodopi appeared in court in Dantewada, a southern district of the

state, on November 1, he met with members of his family and informed them that

he had been beaten while in custody and forced to sign a number of blank sheets

of paper.

“The IFJ calls for a thorough

investigation into these allegations and regular reporting to the judicial

authorities on Kodopi’s wellbeing,” IFJ Asia-Pacific

Director Jacqueline Park said.

Kodopi’s reporting through mobile

phone and internet-based citizen journalism service CGNet Swara was instrumental in bringing to

light serious civilian casualties inflicted by a major anti-insurgency

operation in Dantewada district in March. Observers in Chhattisgarh believe

that his arrest may have been retribution for this and several previous reports

that he filed.

For further

information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific

on +612 9333 0919

The IFJ

represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

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