Shillong, Sept 20: A senior journalist was assaulted on Monday while covering the sit-in-demonstration organized by the KSU, FKJGP and HNYF led ‘Sur ki Nong Mawlai’. The members of the press fraternity have strongly condemned the incident.
The sit-in-protest sponsored by the KSU, FKJGP, HNYF and RBYF was held at U Kiang Nangbah memorial in Barik point to express resentment against the state government’s adamant attitude towards the demand for immediate suspension of the top police officials for ensuring a free and fair investigation into the death of former HNLC leader Cherishterfield Thangkhiew on August 13, 2021.
In a statement, the Shillong Press Club (SPC) said it takes with uttermost seriousness and annoyance, the unprovoked manhandling of a senior journalist on Monday morning.
It said immediate intervention by leaders of the four organisations and subsequent conversation with the SPC and a few functionaries culminated into an understanding that the culprits will be identified and irrespective of their allegiance will be dealt with appropriately.
SPC has welcomed the prompt response of the organisers who publicly condemned this intimidating stunt of the miscreants with the senior journalist at the venue itself and apologized to him as well.
SPC also lauded a group of young men at the spot which immediately intervened and chased away the miscreants, ensuring that the journalist colleague was safe.
“This is not the first condemnation, and we are determined to ensure that such responses cease to come from our end. The incident only goes to show that two hoots are repeatedly dished out to members of the fraternity without whose sacrifices and risks, everyone would be living in the dark starving for information that is prompt and accurately factual. Unless; of course, one chooses to depend upon social media as the sole true source of information,” SPC president, David Laitphlang said.
“It is time that such foolhardy mischief is nipped in the bud and henceforth SPC will find it enormously hard to accept apologies or ignorance if such acts of intimidation and obstruction of duty continue. We will continue to serve the best interests of our State and urge all stakeholders to work together and thwart off any attempt to disrupt the little peace and harmony left for us to cherish,” he stated.
