The International Federation of

Journalists (IFJ) is saddened and shocked to learn of the death of

photojournalist Ashok Sodhi of bullet injuries sustained while covering an

armed encounter in India’s Jammu region on May 11.

Sodhi, a 25-year veteran of the

newspaper industry, was employed by the Daily Excelsior, a leading

newspaper in the state of Jammu and

Kashmir.

He was reporting on an armed

encounter in Kashmir's

Samba district, 45 kilometres south of Jammu,

between security forces and militants

who had allegedly infiltrated from Pakistan-controlled territory.

“The IFJ calls upon media

organisations to increase safety awareness among professional staff and provide

basic protective gear for all personnel deployed to cover situations involving

lethal weaponry,” said Jacqueline Park, IFJ Asia-Pacific

Director.

“The IFJ also reiterates its

demand that all media staff be provided with comprehensive insurance cover, so

that the financial distress arising from death or serious injuries sustained in

the call of duty is minimised.”

For further

information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific

on +612 9333 0919

The IFJ represents

over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries