New Delhi. Shri Ras Bihari, National President of National Union of Journalists-India, affiliated to International Federation of Journalists-Brussels, the largest organization of journalists in the country, has condemned the incident of attack on Hindustan newspaper correspondent Pramod Dalakoti and several others in Haldwani by two students Kartik Bora and Pankaj Khatri along with their companions. Shri Bihari said that this incident took place while the reporter was collecting a news. This is a clear display of violence and aggression towards journalists. The accused not only physically attacked the journalists but also tried to destroy their equipment and loot their belongings. Police have registered a case against the accused and investigation is on.

 

Shri Bihari has also expressed anger over the incident of misbehavior with a woman journalist in the police station in another incident on Sunday and demanded protection for the woman journalist from the accused. Shri Ras Bihari has strongly demanded a thorough investigation to ensure justice to the victims and said that such acts of violence against journalists cannot be tolerated. To prevent such incidents in future, it is necessary to bring those responsible for these heinous acts to justice.

 

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand unit of NUJ-I has also expressed strong anger over the incident of assault on journalist Pramod Dalakoti in Haldwani and has demanded a high-level investigation to ensure that such incidents with journalists are not repeated. Also, in such cases, cooperation has been promised from the journalists affected by such incidents if required.

 

Member of Press Council of India and President of Odisha unit of NUJI, Sri Prasanna Mohanty said that I strongly condemn this incident. The students involved in the attack should be arrested immediately and strict legal action should be taken after this.

 

NUJ-I, Uttarakhand State President Sunil Dutt Pandey, State General Secretary Dr. Naveen Joshi, State Chief Patron Sanjay Talwar, National Secretary Kailash Joshi, Kumaon Mandal President and Journalist Welfare Fund member Dinesh Joshi are among those who condemned and demanded action. Journalists from across the country are included.