by Nava Thakuria
Geneva: The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a global organization dedicated to media safety and press freedom, has expressed serious concern over a mob attack on several journalists in Assam, northeastern India. The incident occurred on 15 October in the Baksa district, where reporters were covering a protest demonstration.
According to reports, the protestors were demanding justice for Assam’s beloved cultural icon Zubeen Garg, whose mysterious death in Singapore on 19 September sparked widespread outrage. Violence erupted when five accused in connection with the case were transferred from Guwahati to Baksa jail. As the agitators opposed the transfer, they resorted to stone pelting at the convoy of police vehicles, leading to retaliatory action.
Several media professionals sustained injuries while performing their duties. Among the injured are Dhruba Bora, Pradip Das, and Paragmoni Das (ND24); Rana Deka, Banajit Kalita, and Apura Sarma (NK TV); Brajen Talukder and Krishna Deka (News Live); Abhijit Talukder (DY365); Birinchi Kr Deka (News18 Assam/NE); Nokul Talukder (Pratidin Time); Jintumoni Das (Pratham Khabar); Sourav Dey (Prag News); Akhyendra Deka (Pratibimba Live); and Dilip Kr Boro (ETV Bharat).
A news vehicle belonging to the Guwahati-based satellite channel DY365 was also set on fire by miscreants during the chaos.
“We strongly condemn the physical assaults on media persons who were simply performing their professional duties,” said Blaise Lempen, President of the Press Emblem Campaign (pressemblem.ch). “Authorities in Assam must ensure proper medical care for the injured journalists and bring the perpetrators to justice under the law.”
Lempen further emphasized the need for safety and orientation programs for field reporters and video journalists to help them handle volatile or potentially violent situations, which continue to pose a growing risk to media professionals across South Asia.
