New Delhi: India has a dubious distinction when it comes to the safety of journalists. India has one of the most vibrant independent media, which is very powerful and does not spare anybody. At the same time India is also one of the most dangerous places for the journalists. It proves that even the democratic nations can be brutal. Journalists face harassment, intimidation and worse death on a regular basis. Journalists working in smaller places and rural areas face maximum trouble. Unlike their big city fellow journalists, these media persons have no job security, no fixed salary of income, no big and powerful networks and no institutional support.
The booming social media has given birth to a new breed of journalists. They aggressively use Social Media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and blogs to do their own independent journalism. Even though their reach is small or very limited they actually act as a source of spicy news for the bigger media.
These new breed of journalists who sometimes double up as activists face the wrath of the people in power more than those in traditional media like Print and TV. The recent burning of two journalists in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh within a gap of just two weeks has brought the focus back on the safety of journalists in India.
It does not mean that the journalists who work for bigger media houses are safe. They too face harassment, intimidation and even threat to their lives. In conflict areas like Jammu & Kashmir, North Eastern states and Naxal affected states, journalists face threat from both authorities and the militants or rebels.
In 2012, India was dubbed the second most dangerous place for working journalists. In 2014, India’s rank went up to fourth place, still considered a very dangerous place for them.
These days many powerful people are using the law to harass or silence journalists. They drag them to court by filing criminal defamation cases seeking huge compensation or damages. The highly competitive media that is doing a tight rope walk usually avoids more trouble and tones down its coverage just to stay safe.
According to website “Committee to Protect Journalist” while 35 journalists have been murdered with confirmed motive, 22 others were killed with unconfirmed motive in India since 1992. This data is up to June 8, 2015. Including the murder of Sandeep Kothari in MP on June 19, the figure touches 58.
Journalists who face verbal, physical and mental harassment are far higher in number across India.
35 Journalists Killed in India/Motive Confirmed
June 8, 2015: Jagendra Singh, Freelancer, Shahjahanpur district, Uttar Pradesh
November 26, 2014: MVN Shankar, Andhra Prabha, Andhra Pradesh
May 27, 2014: Tarun Kumar Acharya, Kanak TV, Sambad, Odisha
December 6, 2013: Sai Reddy, Deshbandhu, Bijapur District
September 7, 2013: Rajesh Verma, IBN 7, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh
August 20, 2013: Narendra Dabholkar, Sadhana, Pune, Maharashtra
December 23, 2012: Dwijamani Singh, Prime News, Imphal
March 1, 2012: Rajesh Mishra, Media Raj, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh
July 20, 2010: Vijay Pratap Singh, Indian Express, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh
November 25, 2008: Vikas Ranjan, Hindustan, Rosera
August 13, 2008: Javed Ahmed Mir, Channel 9, Srinagar
May 11, 2008: Ashok Sodhi, Daily Excelsior, Samba
April 1, 2008: Mohammed Muslimuddin, Asomiya Pratidin, Barpukhuri
January 6, 2006: Prahlad Goala, Asomiya Khabar, Golaghat
April 20, 2004: Asiya Jeelani, freelancer, Kashmir
February 21, 2004: Veeraboina Yadagiri, Andhra Prabha, Medak
January 31, 2003: Parvaz Mohammed Sultan, News and Feature Alliance, Srinagar
November 21, 2002: Ram Chander Chaterpatti, Poora Sach, Sirsa
July 30, 2001: Moolchand Yadav, Freelance, Jhansi
August 10, 2000: Pradeep Bhatia, The Hindustan Times, Srinagar
November 19, 1997: S Gangadhara Raju, Eenadu Television (E-TV), Hyderabad
November 19, 1997: S Krishna, Eenadu Television (E-TV), Hyderabad
November 19, 1997: G Raja Sekhar, Eenadu Television (E-TV), Hyderabad
November 19, 1997: Jagadish Babu, Eenadu Television (E-TV), Hyderabad
November 19, 1997: P. Srinivas Rao, Eenadu Television (E-TV), Hyderabad
March 16, 1997: Saidan Shafi, Doordarshan TV, Srinagar
January 1, 1997: Altaf Ahmed Faktoo, Doordarshan TV, Srinagar
May 17, 1996: Parag Kumar Das, Asomiya Pratidin, Assam
April 10, 1996: Ghulam Rasool Sheikh, Rehnuma-e-Kashmir and Saffron Times, Kashmir
September 10, 1995: Mushtaq Ali, Agence France-Presse and Asian News International, Srinagar
August 29, 1994: Ghulam Muhammad Lone, Freelancer, Kangan
May 22, 1993: Dinesh Pathak, Sandesh, Baroda
January 31, 1993: Bhola Nath Masoom, Hind Samachar, Rajpura
May 18, 1992: M L Manchanda, All India Radio, Patiala
January 3, 1992: Ram Singh Biling, Azdi Awaz, Daily Ajit, Jalandhar
22 Journalists Killed in India/Motive Unconfirmed
August 23, 2013: Rakesh Sharma, Aaj, Etawah
April 27, 2013: Jitendra Singh, Prabhat Khabhar, Jharkhand
February 12, 2013: Nemi Chand Jain, Freelancer, Chhatisgarh
September 26, 2012: Chaitali Santra, Freelancer, South Baksara
February 18, 2012: Chandrika Rai, Navbharat and The Hitavada, Umaria
June 11, 2011: Jyotirmoy Dey, Midday, Powai
February 22, 2011: Umesh Rajput, Nai Dunia, Raipur
July 2, 2010: Hem Chandra Pandey (Hemant Pandey), freelance, Andhra Pradesh
November 20, 2008: Jagjit Saikia, Amar Asom, Kokrajhar
June 10, 2006: Arun Narayan Dekate, Tarun Bharat, Nagpur
November 8, 2004: Dilip Mohapatra, Aji Kagoj, Bhagirathipur
September 18, 2003: Parmanand Goyal, Punjab Kesari, Kaithal
June 24, 2003: Indra Mohan Hakasam, Amar Assam, Goalpara, Assam
October 13, 2002: Yambem Meghajit Singh, Northeast Vision, Manipur
April 14, 2002: Paritosh Pandey, Jansatta Express, Lucknow
August 20, 2000: Thounaojam Brajamani Singh, Manipur News, Imphal
July 31, 2000: V Selvaraj, Nakkeeran, Perambalur, Tamil Nadu
March 18, 2000: Adhir Rai, Freelancer, Deoghar, Jharkand
October 10, 1999: N A Lalruhlu, Shan in Manipur
March 13, 1999: Irfan Hussain, Outlook, New Delhi
January 23, 1999: Shivani Bhatnagar, Indian Express, New Delhi
February 27, 1992: Bakshi Tirath Singh, Hind Samachar, Dhuri
Comments
0 comment