Orissa media body M U F P demands exemplary action against media baiters

Orissa media body M U F P demands exemplary action against media baiters
Wednesday, September 22, 2010http://orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=21338Email StoryFeedbackPrint Story
Report by Orissa Diary correspondent; Bhubaneswar: The Media Unity for Freedom of Press held a silent protest before the Raj Bhavan, Bhubaneswar , against growing atrocities on media in Orssa. Hundreds of media persons belonging to print, electronic and web media joined the protest dharana to condemn the silence of the State Government over repeated attacks on the media in the State.

A large number of intellectuals, educationists, advocates, social and political activists joined the protest to express solidarity with the media persons of the State.

Talking to the newsmen, Prasanta Patnaik, member of the Presidium of MUFP siad that, the MUFP decided to protest before the Raj Bhavan and handover a memorandum to the Governor, seeking his immediate interference to put an end to attacks on the media and also to take stringent actions against the assaulter. Since repeated appeal to the Chief Minister, in this regard, yielded no result, therefore it has been decided to urge intervention of the Governor.

Condemning the manner in which Bikas Swain, the printer, publisher and promoter of Oriya daily Suryaprava was arrested, Patnaik said thar though Bikash Swain was not a terrorist or a dreaded criminal with records of escaping the law, the plain clothed police intercepted his vehicle, while he was on way to a hospital carrying food and medicine for his father who is struggling with cancer. According to reports, the policemen snatched away the food and medicines and threw it on the road. Basing on a F.I.R. of a person the police have slapped a number of criminal charges against him including the Arms Act. though no arms has been recovered from his person, home or office.

He said that the police have blatantly violated the procedures prescribed by the Supreme Court of India, National Police Commission and Article 21 of the Constitution of India in connection with arrest of any individual.

The media persons present were of the view that arrest of Swain might have been aimed at creating panic among the mediamen and to intimidate them for writing against the Government and the police.

Suryaprava managing editor, Naveen Das informed about the alleged sad design of the police against the Suryaprava for exposing wrong doings of the Government. He disclosed that about a fortnight ago a senior police officer had indicated before the Editor of Suryaprava of facing consequences for writing agsint the police and the Government.

Since the Governor was on tour to Bangalore, it was decided to handover the memorandum to him on his return.