Congress members on Monday created pandemonium in Chhattisgarh Assembly over arrest of two journalists in insurgency-hit Bastar region following which the House was adjourned twice.
Raising the issue immediately after Question Hour, Congress member Bhupesh Baghel sought a discussion on alleged harassment of two journalists in Bastar region by police by moving an
adjournment motion notice and Baghel was supported by 35 MlAs of the party.
The adjournment motion notice moved by Congress members was read by Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal which read: “It is the fundamental right of the citizen to express their opinion freely under the democratic system, but police are dictating in the State. The fourth pillar of the democracy — media and journalists — are being deliberately targetted under a conspiracy. Particularly in Bastar region, journalists are being harassed and arrested by police in fabricated cases”.
On March 21, 2016, a journalist Prabhat Singh of Dantewada district was picked up by police in evening hours and taken to Parpa Police Station where he was allegedly tortured. He was booked under Section 66, 67 and 67 (A) of the Information Technology Act, the notice added.
Similarly, another journalist of Dantewada Deepak Jaiswal was arrested by Geedam police, the notice says.
Notably, Deepak had exposed cheating during an examination in Geedam high school. later the examination centre head has lodged a case against Deepak and the journalist was now arrested after several months which hint that it was pre-planned action against him, said the notice.
National Human Rights Commission has sought a reply from the State Government over the arrest of journalist Prabhat Singh, the notice said.
Besides, a so-called social organisation had hurled stones at the house of journalist Malini Subramaniam in Mahaveer Nagar of Jagdalpur by branding her as a Naxal on February 7. Despite 24 hours of the incident, report was not registered by the police, it added.
Journalists of Bastar are facing heat of police. They are being implicated in fabricated cases for publishing report against police and the government which is a threat to the freedom of press and media, the notice says.
After reading out the adjournment motion notice the Speaker asked the State government to respond on the issue.
Opposing the charges levelled by the Opposition members, acting Home Minister Ajay Chandrakar made it clear that his Government was neither targeting the journalist nor implicating them in false cases. No case was lodged by police against Prabhat Singh but a complaint was lodged by a Jagdalpur based journalist Santosh Tiwari following which a case was registered in Kotwali police station, he said.
In his complaint, Tiwari said he was the Admin of a Whatsapp group ‘Bastar News’ created by him with the objective of sharing news information. The accused Prabhat Singh had posted some obscene and objectionable message in the group which had hurt the members of the group which includes public representatives, administrative officers and dignitaries and women as its members.
Following the written complaint of Tiwari, a case against Singh was registered under Section 67 and 67 (A) of IT Act and Section 292 of IPC, informed Chandrakar, adding that three other cases were already lodged against Prabhat Singh in Dantewada district.
A case of under Section 420, 120 (B), 34 of IPC was lodged against him on August 4 last year based on the complaint of a Nayab Tehsildar for recovering Rs 20 from per villagers for making their Adhaar cards, added Chandrakar.
Moreover, a case of cheating was lodged against him at Barsoor police station on October 16, 2015 while another case was lodged against him with Geedam police station on August 8 last year for entering government high school Geedam during an examination without prior permission and clicking photographs and threatening teachers, he said.
Similarly a case was lodged against Deepak Jaiswal under Sections 448 (house trespass), 385 (extortion), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and other Sections of IPC and section 6 of Chhattisgarh state examination Act, he said.
Refuting the Opposition’s charges, Chandrakar said the case was lodged within 24 hours in Malini Subramaniam case.
He further added that journalists are free to work independently in Chhattisgarh.