BARAMULLA, JANUARY 22: Baramulla Working Journalists Association (BWJA) Tuesday condemned the attack on a photojournalists that were performing their professional duties in Shopian.
In a statement issued here, BWJA said that soon after the encounter broke out between militants and security forces in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, the photojournalists had gone to cover the protests as part of their professional duties.
This is not the first time when media has been attacked in Kashmir by different security agencies, and today photojournalists of different organization were again harassed first and then they were attacked by security forces, said BWJA in a statement.
Four photojournalists were hit by pellets fired by the forces including Waseem Andrabi a senior photojournalist working with Hindustan Times newspaper. He was hit by pellets in his face.
Chairman BWJA, Mr Karamat Qayoom in a statement said that, media being a fourth pillar of democracy should have been allowed to cover the protests, these photojournalists were doing the professional duties, but unfortunately they were targeted for none of their fault.
These photojournalists are putting their lives at the risk for the sake of nation, and despite this they are being harassed and attacked time and again by the security agencies, and I condemn the police and other security forces action, said Chairman BWJA.
Meanwhile BWJA appeals the governor S P Malik and DGP, Shri Dilbagh Singh to personally look into the matter and take stern action against the erring officials whosoever found involved.
