Scribes demonstrate as impasse continues

Agartala, Jul 19, 2011 : The assembly journalists that spearheaded the agitation protesting brutal police actions against the media personnel organized a sit in demonstration at Paradise Choumuhani on Monday morning.

The impasse continued as both the state government and media remained intransigent on their respective issues. The media personnel put forward three demands- suspension of SP West Anees Prasad , suspension of East Agartala Police Station OC Narayan Saha and suspension of OC MBB College outpost Jehangir Hussain for launching brutal lathi charge on the journalists.

The media personnel met DGP K Saleem Ali twice on the issue and also resorted to protestmrach in silence before giving deputation to Governor D Y Patil. 

The DGP said, the magisterial enquiry had already been ordered into the incidents and the suspensions could not effected. 

The Governor said, he would look into the matter.

But as the situation stands today till date the journalists’ demands were not yet met and the ice thickened further.

Worse, as no breakthrough in the standoff appeared in sight, some CPM leaders launched scathing attacks on media persons- first in a press conference by CPM secretary Bijan Dhar and then openly in street rallies by some other local level leaders-identifying all the media personnel as workers of Opposition Congress. The comments vitiated the situation further and strengthened the journalists’ resolve.

On Monday the media personnel under the banner of Assembly of Journalists took to street again-this time in sit-in-demonstration at paradise choumuhani where several leaders of the community spoke.

“We are determined to continue with the agitation until and unless our demands are met. The erring police personnel must be punished”, said Subal K Dey, chairman of the assembly of journalists.

It was decided that if the demands of the journalists were not met then at next phase a candle light procession would be organized.

Meantime, several intellectuals, community leaders and eminent personalities expressed solidarity with the journalists and unequivocally condemned the brutal police actions on them.