Srinagar: Police on Tuesday lathi-charged photojournalists as they were capturing latter’s action against the Muharram mourners who were trying to carry protests in defiance of the curbs imposed by the government at Jahangir Chowk here on Tuesday.
Reports said that police deputed in the area targeted the journalists who were covering the protest amid curbs in the area as well in the adjoining areas on 8th of Muharram.
A police officer was seen in action leading the policemen in lathi-charging the journalists. Not official statement was issued till late in the evening what made the police attack journalists, the scribes however said the police action was sudden and that they were discharging their professional duties.
Meanwhile, the former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti termed the “thrashing” of the journalist unfortunate.
“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,” Omar said in a tweet.
Reacting to damage to the camera of freelance photojournalist Sajad Hamid, Omar said: “He’s an independent photo-journalist. His camera is his livelihood. The administration owes it to Sajad to compensate him for the loss he has suffered while working.”
PDP chief and former Chief Minister 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?” (GNS)
