In 2014, total cases registered against attack on journalists were 32 and arrested 33. During 2015, similar cases registered were 28 and persons arrested 41. In 2016, cases registered were 47 and persons arrested 41. In 2014, cases registered state wise were four in Andhra Pradesh followed by two in Assam, 22 in Bihar, three in Gujarat, three in Jharkhand, seven in Madhya Pradesh, five in Maharashtra, one in Meghalaya, one in Odisha, two in Tripura, 63 in Uttar Pradesh and one in Uttarakhand. Of the 33 persons arrested for attacks on media persons in 2014, one was in Andhra Pradesh followed by three in Bihar, four in Gujarat, 10 in Madhya Pradesh, six in Maharashtra, two in Meghalaya, two in Tripura, four in Uttar Pradesh, and one in Uttarakhand.
Of the total 28 cases registered in 2015, one was in Andhra Pradesh followed by one in Chhatisgarh, 19 in Madhya Pradesh, one in Maharashtra, five in Rajasthan, and one in Uttar Pradesh and 32 arrested in Madhya Pradesh. During 2016, cases of attacks on journalists were six in Andhra Pradesh followed by two in Assam, one in Gujarat, two in Karnataka, 24 in Madhya Pradesh, five in Tripura, three in Uttar Pradesh, and three in Uttarakhand. Of the total 41 arrested during 2016 were six in Andhra Pradesh followed by four in Assam, four in Gujarat, 14 in Madhya Pradesh, four in Tripura, three in Uttar Pradesh and two in Uttarakhand.
Union Government in the MHA maintains that the existing laws are adequate for protection of citizens including media persons. MHA also maintains Press Council of India (PCI) takes appropriate action on specific complaints from affected journalists. According to the MHA, Union Government and State Governments receive representations from and on behalf of individuals and journalists, which are examined and based on threat assessment needed action is taken.
MHA maintains further that while Police and Public Order are State Subject under Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, Union Government attaches highest importance to prevention of crimes in general. It was in consideration of such concern that the Union Government in the MHA has issued Advisory to States and Union Territories for protection of journalists against threats and attacks in their line of duty, earlier on October 20, 2017.
Journalists attacked during the calendar years 2014, 2015 and 2016 were from small and medium press, mostly from tier-2 and tier-3 cities and some from mufassil towns. None of them was from the main stream big media brands, indicating that the so called mainstream media have become lackeys of the NDA Union Government with no urge to scrutinize the Government, much less serve public interests!
INDIA
JOURNALISTS FROM SMALL AND MEDIUM MEDIA HOUSES ARE ATTACKED
M.Y.Siddiqui - 2018-01-24 08:10
Media persons witnessed 114 attacks against them across the country during the last three calendar years of 2014, 2015 and 2016 by the vested interests for fear of being exposed of their nexus with political-bureaucratic-builder class in power, corporate, bigots, extremists, militants and others by their reporting as watchdog of public interests, according to the latest data available in the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). During the period, cases registered against such attacks were under Sections 325, 326, 326A and 326B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). However, no separate data is available on journalists killed, as is learnt from the MHA.