International organisations condemn detention of journalists during Delhi protests, urge police to uphold press freedom
Here's the latest protest news from across India:
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Sunday urged Delhi Police to refrain from targeting journalists covering protests in the capital and honour the government’s assurance to the Supreme Court that media personnel would not be impeded in performing their duties.
Adding to this, Security personnel detain demonstrators during a protest near Jantar Mantar on Sunday. (Vipin Kumar/HT) CPJ is a US-based independent organisation that documents attacks on journalists and advocates for press freedom worldwide. Other international organisations, such as Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR), also expressed concern.
Meanwhile, “At least six journalists, including those from mainstream news organisations such as The Indian Express and Hindustan Times, were temporarily detained by Delhi Police,” CPJ shared in a post on X.
Notably, “CPJ calls on Delhi Police to honour the government’s assurance to the Supreme Court that journalists will not be impeded in their professional duties and to refrain from targeting journalists covering the protests,” it added.
As per the latest buzz, They shared India, as the world’s largest democracy, had a special responsibility to uphold press freedom and protect journalists’ constitutional right to report without interference.
In further updates, These detentions took place during the October 10 protests, planned by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
On top of that, Authorities imposed curbs without precedent in Delhi, ordering the gates of 45 metro stations to be shut, cutting mobile internet across central Delhi, cancelling trains into the city, deploying more than 40,000 Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel, and installing barricades and spike strips ahead of the protest.
There were reports of journalists being detained around Jantar Mantar. Posts and videos on social media showed the detained journalists flashing their press cards from the buses transporting detainees.
Source: Hindustan Times