Kohima, October 22 (MExN): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports regarding attacks on three journalists, including the alleged airgun attack on a reporter of the Nagaland-based satellite news channel Hornbill TV in Manipur.
The incident occurred in Laii Village, Senapati district, Manipur, on August 30, when reporter Dip Saikia was covering a flower festival.
The other two cases involved one in Kerala on August 30 and another in Tripura on September 21.
“In all three cases, the Commission has issued notices to the Director Generals of Police of the three states, calling for detailed reports on the matters within two weeks,” the NHRC stated.
According to the statement, the journalist in Manipur was attacked while covering the flower festival in Laii Village and was “shot twice with an air gun, causing severe injuries.”
It must be noted that the accused, Raiveinii Ramai of Phuba Khuman village, reportedly fired the air gun, claiming he mistook the target for a bird. Police have recovered the weapon, and a fact-finding team from the Naga Journalists’ Union (Manipur) noted that foggy conditions may have contributed to the incident. Laii village authorities stated that the accused was not a local resident.
In Tripura, a journalist was allegedly assaulted by a group of miscreants with sticks and sharp weapons on September 21 while attending a clothes distribution programme organised by a political party in Hezamara, West Tripura. His motorcycle was also stolen.
In Kerala, a journalist was reportedly attacked by a group of people at Mangattukavala, near Thodupuzha, while returning from a wedding function on August 30.
In all three cases, the victims were hospitalised for treatment, and police have registered cases, the NHRC added.
