Journalists demand a comprehensive Journalist Protection Act

Business Standard

Journalists across the country today protested against the rise in number of attacks against their community members and demanded enactment of a comprehensive law to curb the trend. In Delhi, a delegation of National Union of Journalists (India) presented a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding a comprehensive Journalist Protection Act for journalists' protection."Over 190 attacks on journalists have been documented in different states in the recent past. There is need for a comprehensive Act with clear provisions of registering complaints in police stations on intimidation, attack or torture of journalists," the memorandum said.

It said all such complaints should be investigated by an SP/DCP level police officer.Manjo Verma, President of Delhi Journalists Association, said investigation of all the complaints should be conducted within two days and action taken/ensured against the culprits.The protesters also demanded that the government should take effective steps to set up a Media Council to guide the progress of the media.