Jammu and Kashmir DGP orders action against police officer after assault on journalists in Srinagar

Police had resorted to lathi-charge against journalists covering the Muharram procession at Srinagar's Lal Chowk on Tuesday, due to which several journalists were injured including damages to their equipment.

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): A day after journalists were allegedly assaulted by police while covering the Muharram procession in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar, Director-General of Police Dilbag Singh on Wednesday ordered immediate action against the police officer for "undesirable behaviour."

"DGP Jammu and Kashmir Dilbag Singh takes a serious view of undesirable behaviour with some media men in Srinagar yesterday. SP Srinagar directed to take immediate action against the erring police officer," the Jammu and Kashmir Police tweeted.

Police had resorted to lathicharge against journalists covering the Muharram procession at Srinagar's Lal Chowk on Tuesday, due to which several journalists were injured.

Meanwhile, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference Vice-President, Omar Abdullah took to Twitter to condemn the incident.

"Very unfortunate to see J&K police personnel mercilessly thrashing journalists in Srinagar. These people were simply doing their jobs - reporting the news. They don’t make the news & they don’t engineer events to create the story. I hope @OfficeOfLGJandK will ensure no repeat," Abdullah Tweeted.

"Media is spending hours debating the human tragedy & unfolding crisis in Afghanistan but will they speak up for their own community in Kashmir who were beaten to pulp today by security forces for doing their job?" Mufti Tweeted.

READ:Media persons thrashed in Srinagar while covering the Muharram procession

On February 8, 2020, Naseer Ganai of Outlook and Haroon Nabi of CNS were summoned by the police on a report of a statement by the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front.

On December 23, 2019, Basharat Masood of the Indian Express and Safwat Zargar of the Scroll were stopped by the police in Handwara for questioning.

On December 17, 2019, Anis Zargar of News Click and Javed of The Print were beaten by a police officer in the Rainawari area of ​​Srinagar.

On December 10 2019, Fayyaz Lulu, affiliated with ETV Bharat, was beaten along with two of his accomplices. Fayyaz was reporting on district development elections at the time.

November 30, 2019, Hakeem Irfan of the Economic Times and Basharat Masood of the Indian Express were summoned and asked to disclose the source of their news.

Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has banned Alam Sharif processions in and around Srinagar because of Muharram. However, several youths tried to stage a procession at the Jahangir Chowk, Srinagar, which was foiled by the police and many were detained.

With agency inputs