Palghar Journalists Arrest: Journalist organisations protest against Palghar Police for curbing media freedom

Journalists from all across Maharashtra plan to carry out a protest in Nagpur demanding to stop the arrests of journalists

Palghar Journalists Arrest: Journalist organisations protest against Palghar Police for curbing media freedom
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After two journalists were booked under section 353 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), around 150 journalists staged a protest against the Palghar Police outside the police station. Journalists across the district participated in Jail Bharo Andolan, demanding to repeal alleged fabricated cases filed against veteran journalists, Ram Parmar and Hussain Khan.

Condemning this attack on journalistic freedom, Yuva Patrakar Sangh President and Journalist Mahesh Gupta said there should be an inquiry conducted against the police for misusing section 353 of IPC against the two journalists.

“Several journalists' organisations are protesting here to demand a fair enquiry in this matter and strong action against the Palghar police for misusing section 353 of IPC against two veteran journalists. We demand the police to repeal false cases filed against them,” Yuva Patrakar Sangh President Mahesh Gupta informed Mumbai Live.


If authorities continue to misuse the law, journalists won’t be able to work freely and will work under pressure, fear,” Gupta added. 

Amid the Maharashtra Assembly Monsoon Session in Nagpur, journalists have planned to organise a protest—‘Chaddi Baniyan Andolan’— on July 12, demanding to stop the arrests of journalists by misusing section 353 of IPC and punishing guilty police officers in this matter.

There have been many cases where the authorities have misused the law against journalists and protestors. Despite that, earlier in 2017, Maharashtra government introduced a bill to seek increased punishment term for those who are accused of attacking public servants and proposed a five-year jail term instead of two.

Earlier on June 21, both the journalists were arrested by Palghar Police for allegedly misbehaving with the police. Police alleged that Ram Parmar and Hussain Khan tried to interfere in their work and manhandled Police Inspector Sayyed. However, after his arrest, Ram Parmar was granted bail by a sessions court on June 25, 2018.

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