The Media Unity for Freedom of Press (MUFP), a leading organisation fighting for the rights of journalists in the State, on Wednesday demanded immediate and unconditional release of Jitendra Prasad Das, the sub-editor in The Samaja who was arrested and put in jail for the publication of a picture of Prophet Mohammed in Tuesday’s edition of the leading Odia daily.
Staging a demonstration here, the MUFP members strongly decried the arbitrary and illegal arrest of Das. “It goes without saying matters of this nature are in the domain of the Editor and the Publisher as per law and it is ridiculous to implicate a DTP operator or a sub-editor for the offence committed by the Editor/Publisher,” said MUFP convenor Prasanta Patnaik. He demanded immediate reinstatement of Das with proper compensation in his current position as sub-editor.