Daijiworld Media Network – Uppinangady (EP)
Uppinangady, Jun 2: The journalists who were out to cover the Hijab controversy at the government college were attacked, illegally confined, cameras snatched and footage deleted by a gang of hooligans on Thursday, June 2. The journalists were also given death threats.
The Kadaba taluk journalists' association has written a complaint to the deputy commissioner demanding the arrest of the accused.
“A few unpleasant incidents including formation of groups had occurred at Uppinangady Government First Grade College after the principal suspended the female students who were wearing Hijab. The pro Hijab hooligan students have locked the room news reporters inside who had gone there to report the incidents.”
“They have also snatched their cameras and deleted the videos shot by them. This is a violation of democracy and freedom of the press. The Kadaba taluk journalists' association severely condemns the injustice. A case against the bullies should be registered and they should be arrested immediately. The journalists who faced injustice should be provided justice,” urged the president, secretary, members and office bearers of Kadaba Taluk Patrakartara Sangha in the petition addressed to the deputy commissioner on Thursday.
The incident
A television journalist was assaulted by a group of students at the Government First Grade College. He was in the college premises to meet the principal to take an opinion about the suspension of the six students from the college on Thursday, June 2, for wearing the hijab.
Television journalist Ajit Kumar from Mangaluru had met with the college principal and was returning when a group of more than 25 students attacked him. They locked him up in a room, snatched his camera and deleted the video footage recorded by him. The group also threatened him with his life if he reported on the issue. Another journalist Siddiq Neeraje who rushed to the rescue of Ajit was also attacked by the group of students. The students said journalists had no right to enter the college campus.
Journalist Ajit Kumar filed a complaint with the Uppinangady police stating that he did not know anyone who attacked him and that he had no personal enmity against any individual of the group.
Meanwhile, the journalist alleged that the police had shown high handed behaviour as they wanted him to furnish all the details such as name and address in the complaint. The police had also recorded the event in the college on video. He said the police could clearly identify people in the footage to make arrests.
Later, the police registered a complaint on the intervention of the senior officials of the department.
DK journo association condemns attack
The Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists' Association has severely condemned the case of restricting the movement of journalists who had gone to report the Uppinangady Government First Grade College Hijab incident. The video recordings of the journalists were deleted and death threats were reportedly posed to them.
“Suitable action should be taken against the guilty students and the government should provide suitable security to the journalists ensuring that such incidents do not occur again,” said Srinivas Indaje, president of Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists Association. "The incidents are recorded in the CC Camera. The district administration should take stringente action against the suspects,” he urged.
Srinivas Indaje said that the SP will be met with on June 3 at 10.30 AM and a petition in this connection submitted to him.