Political parties, including the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), SAD Taksali, besides various media unions on Sunday strongly condemned the incident involvingmisbehaviour against senior journalist Devinderpal by Chandigarh Police while he was on his way to his office for official duty.
At the same time, SAD president Sukhbir Badal also asked the Chandigarh Administration to look into the law and order situation following wayling of another senior journalist Gurupdesh Singh Bhullar by miscreants.
“It is unfortunate that frontline warriors against deadly virus were being targeted by the police force. Media persons are playing a crucial role in making people aware about Covid-19 and even assisting the government in this task. Detaining a journalist who has stepped out during curfew is condemnable and stern disciplinary action should be taken against the erring officials,” he demanded.
AAP’s Punjab unit president Bhagwant Mann, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Harpal Singh Cheema, MLAs — Kultar Singh Sandhwan and Aman Arora also slammed the Chandigarh police for misbehaving with the journalist on Saturday evening saying that the police personnel’s behaviour was uncalled for, while demanding that Punjab Government should take up matter with Chandigarh Administration for award of punishment to the guilty policemen.
AAP also sought special financial relief or packages for journalists performing their duties in the toughest of times risking their own lives, besides demanding an insurance cover of Rs one crore for journalists performing their duties against all odd.
Meanwhile, Chandigarh Press Club (CPC), Chandigarh-Punjab Union of Journalists (CPUJ), Digital Media Association, besides other associations have also condemned Chandigarh Police for unlawful detaining of the journalist.
“CPC is taking up matter with UT Administrator VPS Badnore so that guilty official could be brought to the book and directions be issued so that no such incidence to take place in future,” said CPC secretary general Saurabh Duggal.
CHANDIGARH POLICE INITIATES INQUIRY
After complaints of harassment and demands raised from various quarters, Chandigarh Police on Sunday said it has initiated an inquiry against the police officials concerned.
"Chandigarh Police respect the fourth pillar of the democracy and considers media completely helpful fighting against the outbreak of Covid-19. At this time of crisis all over the world it is also felt that media is playing an important role in society," the police said in a statement.
It said that keeping in view Saturday's incident in which senior journalist belonging to The Tribune Group alleged facing harassment, an inquiry has been initiated against the officials concerned. The inquiry has been marked to Ombir Singh Bishnoi, DIG, UT, Chandigarh to go into details of the incident to dig out the facts behind the incident, the statement said.