Journalists’ bodies condemn scribe’s murder in Tripura

Hyderabad/New Delhi, November 21 (MExN): The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) today condemned the killing of a senior journalist working for Syandan Patrika, a leading Bengali daily of Agartala, Sudip Datta Bhowmik by a jawan of the Tripura State Rifles at RK Nagar, a short distance from Agartala on Tuesday.   He was shot dead by a jawan outside the office of the Commandant of the 2nd Tripura State Rifles (TSR) at RK Nagar, about 20 km from Agartala. He went there to meet the Commandant after obtaining an appointment. The jawan who was on guard duty at the office accosted him and shot him dead before the reporter had the chance to tell that he had an official appointment, the union said in a statement issued by President SN Sinha and Secretary-General Amar Devulapalli.   They reminded he is the second journalist to be killed in the last two months in Tripura. On September 20, Santanu Bhowmik working for a local TV, Din Raat was killed by a mob while covering an agitation of the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT).   “We are very much concerned over the murder of two journalists who were discharging their journalistic duty in the last two months sending shivers down the spines of working journalists in the state,” the statement added. The IJU demanded that the state government should take immediate steps to instil confidence among the journalists that they are safe to discharge their duty without fear.   It further urged the Press Council of India to take suo motu cognizance of the murder of Sudip Datta Bhowmik and take suitable steps to bring the killers of the journalists to the book.   KPC urges govt to take up case with sincerity Kohima Press Club (KPC) has also expressed shock over the killing of senior journalist, Sudip Dutta Bhowmik. While condemning the killing, the KPC stated it is “seized with apprehension at the repeated murder of journalists across the country which brings to question the safety and security of journalists in a country that widely professes freedom of press.” The KPC in a press release issued by its general secretary, Alice Yhoshü urged the government of Tripura to take up the case with all sincerity and seriousness and perform a thorough probe into the killing. It meanwhile expressed solidarity to its Agartala counterpart and also conveyed condolences to bereaved family.