NUJ (I) EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER POLICE ACTION AGAINST MEDIA PERSONS IN ODISHA.

New Delhi, October 19, 2020: The police action against Odisha’s OTV journalist Ramesh Rath is highly condemnable. He was illegally and forcibly picked up by the police. According to Ras Bihari President, National Union of Journalists (India) and Secretary General Prasanna Mohanty this is nothing but intolerance attitude of Odisha Govt towards media persons not succmbing to their pressure. "The police neither showed their identity cards nor produced any arrest warrant issued against Mr Rath when they literally abducted them." they said.

NUJ(I) feels that the police action is contrary to the spirit of the right to freedom of speech and expression and press freedom guaranteed by the Constitution of India.

"It appears Odisha Government is misutilising the police force and other agencies to suppress the voice of journalists and subdue the media", both Ras Bihari and Mohanty react in a statement.

"We urge the Odisha Government to refrain from such coercive action and allow the journalists to perform their duties" they further added.