Mangalore: Mediapersons Pledge Solidarity with Naveen Soorinje
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (DV)
Mangalore, Nov 8: In the wake of the arrest of journalist Naveen Soorinje in the home stay attack case, members of the print and visual media along with others protested in front of the deputy commissioner's office here on Thursday November 8.
A memorandum was submitted to district commissioner Dr N S Chennappa Gowda on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Taranath Kapikad of Janshree media claimed that police intentionally arrested Soorinje mainly to get rid of an eyewitness to the incident.
"The state government should soon intervene in the matter and take appropriate action," he urged.
Kapikad further said that a reporter's job is only to do his work and not work as an informer to the police. "It is the responsibility of the police to find out about such incidents," he said.
Pushparaj Jain, bureau chief of Vartha Bharathi said that the arrest was made for no reason by the police. "The arrest is against the principles of freedom of expression. The case against Naveen Soorinje should be withdrawn immediately," he said.
P B Harish, president of district working journalists' union said, "Police have registered case against a reporter who went to report the home stay attack. They have even filed an FIR and produced him in court and remanded him in judicial custody. It is just not fair," he said.
"I have spoken to chief minister Jagadish Shettar, district incharge minister C T Ravi, and JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy on this issue. The reporter who went to perform his duty is being prosecuted, which is not right," he added.
"At the time of the home stay incident, cases were filed against journalists, and when the journalists' union took up the issue, we were assured of a positive response, and even a committee was formed with both journalists and police officials. However, the police have failed to keep up their word. The journalists' union condemns this action and demands re-investigation of the case," he said.
Ivan D’Souza, KPCC secretary also spoke on the occasion and blamed the state government for the arrest of Naveen Soorinje.