Disruption in Punjab : Checking of newspaper vehicles questionable

THE irony couldn't have been starker. The doorstep delivery of newspapers was disrupted across Punjab on November 2, which is observed as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. Even as the UN-designated day turned the spotlight on the threats to freedom of expression and universal access to information, the Punjab Police stopped vehicles carrying newspapers and conducted checks in the wee hours of Sunday. Lakhs of readers waited agonisingly for their favourite dailies — a staple ingredient of their morning routine along with a cup of tea or coffee. In some cases, the wait proved futile as the newspapers didn't arrive at all.The police claimed that the checks were based on intelligence inputs that these vehicles could be used to smuggle drugs, arms and ammunition. However, the cops embarrassingly drew a blank, raising doubts about the veracity of the inputs and the purpose of the exercise. No wonder Opposition parties have lashed out at the ruling AAP, accusing it of carrying out a "chilling attack on press freedom" and imposing an "undeclared Emergency." The allegation that the Mann government is misusing state machinery to prevent troublesome news from reaching the public is too serious to be brushed aside.It's true that Punjab, which shares a long border with Pakistan, cannot take its security for granted. However, the state government must strike a balance between vigilance and transparency. Various stakeholders, including media houses and newspaper suppliers, should have been taken into confidence before launching Sunday's operation. This would have avoided disruption as well as confusion. The freedom of the media is a cornerstone of democracy, even during the toughest times. The government and the police would be well advised to remember the days of militancy, when cops escorted bicycle-borne delivery agents on their morning rounds — for the sake of their safety as well as the uninterrupted supply of newspapers.

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