New Delhi: The Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) and the Brihanmumbai Union of Journalists are shocked at the news that the Delhi Police has chosen to prosecute three journalists, who were reporting for the Caravan journal, for an incident that occurred four years ago. The Caravan journalists are reporters, not rioters.
The journalists, two young men and a young woman, had been attacked by a communal mob in August 2020 while investigating a complaint against the Bhajanpura police. The journalists filed an FIR about the mob violence but the police did not pursue their complaint for four years. Instead it is now prosecuting three journalists under serious non-bailable charges under a counter FIR. The charges under Section 354 and 153 A of the IPC are for alleged assault and for promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion.
The DUJ and BUJ jointly demand that the ‘investigation’ into the FIR be halted and an inquiry be conducted by the Delhi High Court into the entire episode. “We view the FIR as an assault on the freedom of the press and particularly an assault on Caravan which is reputed for its bold and independent reportage, analyses and exposes,” said the DUJ office bearers.
