Media Release: India
9 September 2013
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the death of Rajesh Verma, a news cameraman for a national broadcaster and Israr, a freelance photographer, in mob violence in the district town of Muzaffarnagar in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
According to information received by the IFJ affiliate, the National Union of Journalists of India (NUJ-I), Rajesh Verma a news cameraman for the IBN 7 channel which broadcasts in English, Hindi, Marathi and other languages all across India, and a freelance photographer identified only by the single name Israr, were attacked by a mob dispersing after a meeting in Muzaffarnagar town on 7 September.
Both had been assigned to cover the meeting and seem to have been attacked with deliberate intent. Rajesh Verma was shot through the chest and Israr died of serious injuries inflicted by blunt objects.
An estimated twenty-seven people have been killed in communal rioting that broke out in Muzaffarnagar district on Saturday, 7 September. Reports indicate that despite a heavy deployment of security forces, the situation continues to be volatile and tense.
“We call on the local authorities to ensure that those responsible for the violence against the journalists are identified and brought to justice”, said the IFJ Asia Pacific.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of our slain colleagues and call on media organisations to always be mindful of the inherent hazards of physical harm involved in covering situations of mob violence and rioting”.
For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0950
The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries
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