CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh Press Club condemns the unlawful action of the Madhya Pradesh Police, who arrested, stripped and humiliated a local journalist, theater artistes and other members of the civil society.
These persons were paraded naked at a police station in Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh and in order to further shame and humiliate them, the local police took their pictures and circulated them on social media.
This incident is a clear attack on the freedom of speech and speaks volumes about atrocities against journalists, especially the ones working in districts and at sub-divisions.
Though the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, has suspended the involved police personnel and ordered an inquiry, this increasing tendency of the governments to involve the government machineries to attack mediapersons is of great concern and a threat to the freedom of press.
Joining the Press Club of India, Indian Women's Press Corps and other journalists’ bodies, the Chandigarh Press Club condemns the action of the Madhya Pradesh Police and demands that the victims be released and compensated for the mental agony and physical harassment they have endured at the hands of the Madhya Pradesh Government. It also urges the National Human Rights Commission to take suo moto notice of all such atrocities against journalists and civil societies.