RSF calls for probe

KD NEWS SERVICE

SRINAGAR, Jan 22: Reporters Without Borders or Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF), an international body for journalists, on Tuesday called upon the Indian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the pellet firing at journalists in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.

In a statement on Twitter, RSF said the government forces’ violence’ against Kashmiri photojournalists is ‘unacceptable.’ “Unacceptable violence by #India’s security forces against photojournalists covering a gunfight in south,” RSF tweeted.

“We call on #indian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation on this blatant attack on press freedom. #JournalismIsNotACrime,” it tweeted.

Meanwhile, various Kashmir journalist associations on Tuesday condemned the attack on photojournalists by the forces during the gunfight.

In a statement, Kashmir press photographers association (KPPA) said the photo journalists visited the encounter spot in Shopian to carry out their professional duties. “…but they were showered with pellets from a close range,” it said.

“KPPA believes that the oft-repeated assault on the photojournalists is uncalled for and employing such tactics by the government forces won’t deter us from carrying out our professional duties,” the statement said.

The association also urged the Governor Satya Pal Malik and Director General of Police Dilbag Singh to look into the matter and order a magisterial enquiry into the incident followed by strict action against the erring personnel.

Kashmir Video Journalists Association (KVJA) also condemned the attack on journalists in Shopian.

“This has become a routine that journalists while performing their professional duties are either thrashed or at time showered with pellets,” KVJA statement said.