Mumbai, October 30 (MExN): The Press Club of India (PCI) on Friday expressed shock over the Arunachal Pradesh Police including the name of senior journalist and is deputy editor of The Arunachal Times Tongam Rina in its requests for search warrants in connection with the October 23 violence in Pasighat, and condemned what it termed ‘attempts by state authorities to intimidate journalists covering protests against the Siang dam project.’
PCI President Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty and Secretary General Afzal Imam in a statement said “probing the violence and destruction of property cannot become an excuse to intimidate journalists reporting on a movement.” It urged the state police to immediately ensure that journalists, including Rina, are not harassed for doing their jobs.
The club said the inclusion of Rina’s name in the list, “without any justification or links to the violence”, was a serious attack on press freedom that could not be accepted in a democracy like India.
PCI noted that Rina has an impressive track record of covering environmental, political and governance issues in the state.
