GUWAHATI: The Press Club of India has strongly condemned the recent assault on photojournalists by the Delhi Police during the coverage of public protests led by Aam Aadmi Party workers demanding the release of Arvind Kejriwal. Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21, sparking widespread demonstrations across Delhi.
According to reports from the Working News Cameraman's Association, disturbing photographs have emerged depicting senior police officers engaging in unruly behaviour, including grabbing photojournalists by their throats and issuing threats. Among the victims of this aggression were seasoned professionals such as Arun Thakur from the India Today group, with over two decades of experience, who was reportedly subjected to a threatening chokehold. Another photojournalist, Salman Ali of Hindustan, suffered a fractured elbow in the ensuing chaos.
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The Press Club of India emphasised that the assaulted photojournalists were simply performing their duty of covering political protests, and any form of violence against them is utterly unacceptable. The Press Club highlighted the fundamental right to Freedom of Press, as reiterated by the Supreme Court on numerous occasions, stressing the need for police awareness regarding the boundaries of freedom of speech and expression.
Quoting a recent Supreme Court observation from March 12, 2024, the Press Club of India expressed concern over the apparent disregard shown by the Delhi Police towards the judiciary's guidance on upholding constitutional freedoms.
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In light of the egregious incident, the Press Club of India has called for a high-level inquiry to be conducted by a retired judge into the conduct of the Delhi Police. The Press Club demands immediate suspension of the identified police officers and personnel involved in the assault pending the outcome of the investigation, to ensure justice for the aggrieved photojournalists and to safeguard their ability to carry out their professional duties without fear of police brutality.
