Caravan contributor Prabhjit Singh, Assistant photo editor Shahid Tantray and a female reporter who was covering communal tension that broke out on August 5, were beaten, punched, kicked, threatened with murder, and subjected to abuse.
A mob surrounded the journalists and assaulted them for more than an hour and a half. The crowd became more aggressive after learning that Tantray was Muslim. They forced him to delete photographs and videos from his camera. The injured journalists have wounds all over their bodies. The assailants are alleged to be affiliated with Bharatiya Janata party (BJP).
According to the complaint the female journalist filed to the police, assailants beat on her head, arms, hips and chest, threw verbal abuse and sexually harassed her.
Police quickly managed to rescue the journalists. At first, they were taken to Bhajanpura police station and then to the hospital.
Although the journalists filed formal complaints in Bhajanpura police station, the police is yet to register the First Information Report (FIR).
IJU president Geetartha Pathak said: “The assault is an attack on press freedom. The IJU condemns the police’s hesitation to file the FIR on such a heinous crime. The Union demands the Delhi Government, the Union Home Ministry and Union Information & Broadcasting Ministry take concrete actions to launch an investigation on the case and ensure that the culprits are booked.”
IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: “The IFJ is saddened and angered to know such an attack against journalists can take place in broad daylight. We send a message of support to the victimised journalists and urge the Delhi authorities to launch a thorough investigation of the incident and hold those responsible accountable”.