Police action against journalist condemned

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 19

The Punjab Press Club has strongly condemned the action of the Chandigarh Police of detaining a senior reporter of Punjabi Tribune, Devinder Pal on Saturday evening.

The press body said the act of the police speaks volumes about the colonial mindset of the Chandigarh Police in dealing with mediaperson, who was walking to his office with his ID card.

Davinder was allegedly dragged and bundled into a vehicle, after which he was taken to a police station and made to sit on the floor. Devinder managed to inform his colleagues of the incident in time and they took up the matter with the high-ups, after which he was set free. However, no action has been taken against the erring cops, said the press body.

The body demanded strict action against the policemen who manhandled Devinder. If the police can humiliate and harass a journalist who has a valid identity card, how ruthless will it be on other citizens, the body said.

Lodging a complaint over the issue with the UT Administration, the Punjab Press Club also sought intervention of the PMO “as the act of the cops is a violation of the lockdown guidelines issued by the Centre”.

The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in every his addresses since the lockdown, has been showering praises on mediapersons for continuing performing their duties in the tough times.

Meanwhile, members of the media fraternity from Phagwara, Goraya, Phillaur, Nurmahal and Nakodar have strongly condemned the police’s ‘excessions’ on mediapersons, including Davinder Paul in Chandigarh and Hari Pal Singh in Phagwara, during the curfew. Journalists Jasbir Chana and Neeraj Sharma, Harjot Chana, BD Sharma, Laddi Sharma and Shiv Kaura, while condemning the police for adopting inhuman behaviors with the mediapersons, demanded stern action against the erring police personnel.