The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) condemned the brutal attack on a journalist in Pilibhit, a district headquarter town in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday for his reportage exposing the land mafia, including some influential politicians in the area. Journalist Haider Khan was attacked by some persons on Sunday and was dragged for about 100 meters from his vehicle and beaten badly. He is in a hospital and his condition is stated to be critical.
In a statement issued here on Monday, IJU president S N Sinha, Secretary-General Amar Devulapalli and Press Council of India (PCI) Member K Amarnath alleged that the attacks were taking place in Uttar Pradesh with alarming frequency with the connivance of the ruling party politicians and mafias supporting them. Terming the attack as most unfortunate, as it came just a week after a journalists Jagendra Singh was burnt alive by some policemen and henchmen of a Minister Ram Murty Varma, the statement said. “The cat is out of the bag when Minister for Horticulture Parasnath Yadav said some incidents happen in the course of nature and destiny …you can’t fight the nature.”
The IJU leaders condemned the Minister’s statement as outrageous and demanded that Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav sack Ram Murty Varma and Parasnath Yadav from the ministry and conduct a thorough inquiry into two incidents, one killing and another brutal attack, involving journalists. They also requested Press Council of India (PCI) Chairman Justice C K Prasad to refer the case of attack on Haider Khan to the fact finding committee already appointed by him to inquire in to the burning of Jagendra Singh. (NSS)