Hyderabad :- The Telangana State Photojournalists Association staged a protest against the recent attacks on photojournalists in Delhi, calling them an assault on freedom of the press. The protest, held near Deshoddaraka Bhavan in Basheer Bagh, demanded legal action against the police officials responsible for the attacks.
Anumalla Gangadhar, President of the Telangana State Photojournalists Association, and K.N. Hari, General Secretary, strongly criticized the Delhi Police for their alleged brutal assault on photojournalists covering an Aam Aadmi Party protest in Delhi. They emphasized that journalists and photojournalists have a duty to cover political events and that attacking them is unacceptable.
Gangadhar highlighted the gravity of the situation, pointing to photographs released by the Indian Journalists’ Union affiliate Working News Cameramen’s Association, showing senior Delhi Police officers threatening and manhandling photojournalists. He questioned the legality and motivations behind the restrictions imposed by the police during the protests.
K.N. Hari expressed concern over the increasing dangers faced by journalists in the country, emphasizing the need to protect press freedom. He urged ruling parties to ensure a safe working environment for journalists, free from threats or attacks.
The protest also demanded justice for the injured photojournalists, including Arun Thakur from India Today and Salman Ali from Hindustan Times, who suffered injuries during the attacks. The Association called on the Central Government to conduct a high-level inquiry and take strict legal action against the responsible police officials.
Association Treasurer K. Anil Kumar, along with Executive Committee Members Nakka Srinivas, Md. Aleemuddin, and several others, participated in the demonstration, reiterating their commitment to press freedom and justice for all journalists.
“India Today, why are you silent?”
