Mangaluru: Addressing concerns raised over the safety of journalists, Deputy Commissioner Dr KG Jagadish has warned of stringent legal action against those who attack, threaten or obstruct the scribes while performing their duty.
Presiding over the district level committee meeting for inquiry and review over the attacks on journalists at his office here the Deputy Commissioner said that in case of any against the journos the same should be brought to the notice of committee and people should refrain from taking law into their hands failing which stringent action will be taken against them.
Further, he instructed the police officials to speed up investigation in cases of attacks on scribes in coming days and also file charge sheet to the court.
Dakshina Kannada Working Journalist Association President Jaganath Shetty Bala raised fears that reporters, especially photographers and video cameraman are often targeted while reporting instances of violence and hence proper protection should be provided to them.
Reteirating his views committee member Mohammed Arif Padubidri said reporters have been targeted while doing their duty since decades hence police should provide proper protection. Few reporters have also received threat calls he added urging for stringent action in such cases.
District Information officer Khadar Sha informed that three cases of assault have been reported on reporters from January 2016 to May 2017. Of this one assault case fell under city police limits and two under Dakshina Kannada police station limits. Two cases are in the court and one case is under investigation.
ACP Uday Nayak and others were present.
