Shahjahanpur, Apr 16 (IANS): The Shahjahanpur district unit of Uttar Pradesh Rural Journalists Association (GRPA) on Thursday said that the attempt to suppress the voice of the IANS news agency by some alleged Tablighi Jamaat members is an attack on the fourth pillar of democracy, adding that the culprits must face strict action.

Rajiv Sharma, District President of the Shahjahanpur unit of GRPA, said in a meeting of the organization on Thursday, "The country's prestigious news agency Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) had uncovered some important facts related to the Tabiligi Jamaat Markaz, after which some fanatics have tried to suppress the news agency, its subscribers and journalists. This is not a good sign for democracy."

He said that it is the real responsibility of the media to reveal the truth against the anti-social elements, so strict action should be taken against those who try to suppress the media institutions.

Sharma said, "The media agency and its journalists are risking their lives to cover a global pandemic like COVID-19 and in such a situation attempts to threaten or intimidate them will not be tolerated."

He said that from Friday, the rural journalists of the district would start writing letters to the President and the central government demanding support to IANS and action against the culprits, and would hold a large agitation in the district after the lockdown is lifted next month.