UNESCO tells India to take action in Assam journalist's death

Assam based journalist Parag Bhuyan was injured critically in a road accident at Kakopathat in Tinsukia district on November 11 from where the driver absconded. Although he was rushed to the Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh immediately, Bhuyan could not be saved.

Guwahati:The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has called upon the Indian government to clarify the circumstances surrounding the death of Assam based journalist Parag Bhuyan died last month in an accident.

Bhuyan was injured critically in a road accident at Kakopathat in Tinsukia district on November 11 from where the driver absconded. Although he was rushed to the Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh immediately, Bhuyan could not be saved.

Bhuyan had been a journalist for the last several decades and was associated with a local television channel. He had gone out of his home to meet someone on the night of November 11 and was hit by a vehicle. Although the police had intercepted the vehicle and arrested the driver the next day, the investigation failed to conclude anything so far.

Taking a note of the accident, Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay has called on the Indian authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding the death of journalist Parag Bhuyan.

"I deplore the death of Parag Bhuyan,” said the Director-General.

“I trust that the Indian authorities will ensure a timely investigation to shed light on the circumstances of Parag Bhuyan’s death. No effort should be spared to enable journalists to exercise their profession safely, without hindrance," Audrey Azoulay said.

The journalists' union across Assam condemned the death of the senor journalist and demanded a detailed inquiry about his death and to punish the guilty.

The UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising, capacity building and a range of actions, notably in the framework of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.